On the recordJune 20, 2012
Let me also be clear, because this fact is largely missed by the opponents of this legislation. Only lands that are already approved by BLM for exploration can be nominated by industry. This bill is not a green light for immediate production on all Federal acres. Rather, it grants access to a very small percentage of the total of Federal lands. As a Coloradoan, I respect the need to preserve our wilderness areas, but I also understand the need to responsibly capitalize on our vast resources in order to get people back to work. As a Marine Corps combat veteran who has served multiple tours in the Middle East, I fully understand the need to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, and this legislation will help do that. For these reasons, I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on certainty, ``yes'' on jobs, and ``yes'' on the final passage of the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act.
