Washington, D.C. - Today the administration released rules regulating drilling and workplace safety, but the job killing moratorium remains in place. "Is there even a plan to restore the jobs lost due to the moratorium?" asked U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the Senior House Republican on the Joint Economic Committee. "Overall, I’m not encouraged."

"As energy jobs bleed from the Gulf, we continue to see signals that we will have a drilling moratorium, formal or de facto, for the foreseeable future," said Brady. Tens of thousands of energy workers are staring job losses in the face because of this administration's relentless focus to stop drilling. "Essentially, this administration wants the energy industry to suit up for the game, but they won’t let them on the field. What the energy sector needs is certainty and a clear path forward to resume energy exploration" added Brady.

The drilling moratorium is scheduled to remain in place until November 30, 2010.