Political Quotes

“I thank Senator Cassidy. Mr. President, I also rise in strong support of this amendment, the Cassidy amendment, which would increase revenue sharing for States for offshore and oil and gas development. Revenue sharing is a critical issue that I have advocated with others for many years, certainly including Senator Cassidy, his predecessor, and Committee Chair Murkowski. I am pleased that our coalition in support of this strong, positive concept has grown in recent years and it now includes colleagues from the mid-Atlantic States. I am particularly pleased that that is evidenced by this amendment being supported and coauthored by the two Senators from Virginia and Senator Scott. Revenue sharing with oil and gas producing States is, No. 1, fair to those States that incur real environmental and other costs due to production activity that benefits the Nation; and, No. 2, it is good, positive pro-American energy policy. It is fair because, again, energy-producing States incur costs and impacts from that production, including environmental costs. Those States need to be properly compensated to deal with those real costs and impacts. Secondly, and just as importantly, this is positive, productive policy that furthers pro-American energy agenda. It encourages the production of American energy. It incents domestic drilling and activity and domestic energy production over the long term. That energy production is essential to job creation and an overall healthy economy.…”