James Davis: “I want to first start by thanking the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), chairman of the Committee on Resources, for…”

“I want to first start by thanking the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), chairman of the Committee on Resources, for working with me and others to clarify that the language in this bill is not intended to alter the existing law and the moratorium as far as drilling for oil and gas in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and other protected areas. Having said that, I want to join the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) in urging a negative vote on this bill. This bill has as a stated goal to speed up the permitting process with respect to alternative energy projects, and it certainly is a worthy goal. None of us should be afraid of trying to find better ways to have a system that is quicker, more efficient, and less bureaucratic. However, I think the bill fails to achieve that goal. If this bill had gone to the committee, and if the bill fails here and in the Senate, hopefully it will come back to committee this Congress or next, I think Members could sit down and try to work through these details; but instead, we have a bill that really guts much of the NEPA, the National Environmental Protection Act.”