POMBO AGREES TO WORK WITH STEARNS ON REMOVING AMENDMENT FROM ENERGY BILL

Washington, Oct 4, 2005 - "I commend Chairman Pombo of the Resources Committee for withholding his energy bill from floor consideration due to the Peterson/Abercrombie amendment," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "In our letter to Chairman Pombo, Rep. Michael Bilirakis and I outlined the reasons for opposing this amendment. In a following conversation, Pombo stated that he would work with us on removing this amendment from the bill."

During consideration of energy legislation last week in the Resources Committee, the Peterson/Abercrombie amendment was approved, which would open all of the nation's Outer Continental Shelf to natural gas drilling. Stearns had been working with Pombo on language that would give the states control over their offshore resources where states such as Florida could opt out of allowing drilling in their coastal waters. "In addition to working with me to remove this amendment, Chairman Pombo renewed his commitment to restoring language allowing Florida and other states to prevent drilling in their waters."