On the recordJuly 30, 2010
I rise in opposition to this bill. Obviously, I am not opposed to improving safety and regulation in the OCS. But I do want OCS drilling to continue. I want to thank Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Markey. The Energy and Commerce bill that was reported out, I believe 48-0, did improve safety, but it did allow drilling to continue domestically. In my opinion, with the taxes in this bill, with the punitive nature of this bill, if it were to pass and become law we would not have OCS drilling, and it would lessen the ability to develop our domestic resources, would increase costs to the American consumer, and make us more dependent, not less dependent, on foreign oil. There are some good things in the bill. Some of the safety provisions from the Energy and Commerce bill that are included on CEO certification and things of this sort are worthwhile. But overall, it is a bad bill, and I would ask for a ``no'' vote.
