Alan Lowenthal: “I thank the distinguished gentleman from Oregon. Mr. Chairman, today we are considering a messy conglomeration of…”

“I thank the distinguished gentleman from Oregon. Mr. Chairman, today we are considering a messy conglomeration of retread ideas that wastes this Chamber's time. The various titles in this bill have been rejected by the Senate, by many of the affected States, and have a zero chance of being signed by the President. Even when some of the ideas in this bill have merit, such as codifying the reorganization of the former Minerals Management Service, or addressing the temporary nature of Interior's authority to collect inspection fees, these ideas are cobbled together with provisions that are a mess of ``drill-baby-drill'' slogan-over-substance dead ends. So I get it; this is a message bill. Well, here's where I think the message is wrong: Americans have a right to weigh in on government actions in their backyard. This bill eliminates that opportunity by mandating lease sales and gagging the National Environmental Policy Act. Americans should all be able to share in the value of their public lands. This bill, however, takes the sale of a public asset and sends much of the revenue to only a few States, instead of either paying down the deficit or spending it on programs of national benefit to all Americans. Again, Americans should be told the truth about the nonexistent effect on gas prices of expanded U.S. drilling.…”