Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today spoke on the House Floor against the Administration’s decision to re-impose an offshore energy production moratorium following a federal judge’s ruling, which lifted the moratorium.

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Boustany also made the following comments on the moratorium and the Administration’s decision to stop dredging operations for sand berms designed to protect Louisiana’s coast from oil washing ashore.

On the new moratorium: "Sec. Salazar's decision to re-impose the moratorium shows shortsightedness following the federal judge’s ruling and the advice of the scientists and engineers that Interior requested,” said Boustany. “Thousands of jobs throughout Southwest Louisiana depend on offshore energy production, and America relies on the energy we produce.  Sec. Salazar's moratorium makes the U.S. more dependent on foreign energy sources.  The moratorium is the wrong way to make offshore energy production safer.”

On berm dredging: “Louisiana developed a plan to help save our coast from this oil, but the President and his Administration continue to put up red tape without any plan of their own,” said Boustany.  “The Administration should work with the state to implement a responsible strategy to protect the coast.  If the Administration opposes the sand berms, what’s their better solution?” 

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