Political Quotes

“My amendment prevents funds from this act from being used to finalize, implement, or enforce the new Arctic regulations the Department of the Interior rushed to last week. In addition to the billions of dollars already spent--$7 billion--to develop these sales, these regulations would cost an additional $2 billion for the oil and gas industry. This regulation is nothing more than a tactic to lock safe Arctic energy development up in red tape because exploration would become full of unnecessary operational burdens. The National Petroleum Council Arctic report found that Arctic resources can be safely developed today using existing, field-proven technology. Locking up Arctic resources only hurts our Nation by preventing responsible energy development. I ask my colleagues to support the State of Alaska, stand up for the Alaskan Natives of the North Slope who support this production in energy exploration, and vote ``yes'' on my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 2000 Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Byrne). The gentlewoman from Minnesota is recognized for 5 minutes. Ms. McCOLLUM. This amendment would block the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management from finalizing regulations that deal with exploratory drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf that has conducted mobile oil offshore drilling units.…”