On the recordMarch 25, 2010
In 2008, when gas prices reached $4 a gallon, Republicans took to this House floor demanding that Congress take action. The good news for Americans is that Congress responded by lifting the ban on offshore drilling, opening up over 500 million new acres to energy production. The bad news is that immediately when President Obama took office, he completely halted this potential production. Now his Interior Secretary has announced a new Obama moratorium, a delay on leasing any new offshore areas for drilling until 2012. That means that Americans will have to wait 4 years for a plan to open up new areas for offshore energy production. That means that no new drilling will occur during President Obama's entire term in office. And this means that Americans will lose out on new jobs while this administration keeps dragging its feet. Mr. Speaker, it is time to end the delays and say ``no'' to the Obama moratorium and implement the 2010 plan to expand offshore drilling.
