Political Quotes

“While the U.S. is blessed with an abundance of energy resources, we are also saddled with an administration that is throwing up barriers to our energy security and economic prosperity. This is why, Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act. It passed out of the subcommittee I chair on Energy and Mineral Resources. The bill requires the President to implement a new 5-year plan that includes the areas offshore containing the greatest known oil and natural gas resources. This is a targeted approach that focuses on specific areas in which we know the most energy resources are located. The bill requires lease sales to be held off of Virginia, which were originally scheduled to take place in 2011, and South Carolina. {time} 1530 In both States, there is strong, bipartisan support from the public, the congressional delegations and the Governors for drilling off their coasts. Finally, the bill implements important reforms to strengthen the safety, accountability and efficiency of the Federal Government's offshore agencies. It establishes a fair revenue-sharing program for all coastal States. Both provisions would further encourage the safe, expanded production of offshore energy. Mr. Chairman, high gas prices hurt all of us, and the impacts are felt every day. Families are forced to make tough decisions in their budgets, schools run fewer buses and the costs of businesses go up, forcing companies to hire fewer workers.…”