Scalise: Bush Lifts Ban on OCS Drilling

Washington, DC -- Congressman Scalise today issued a statement regarding President Bush’s announcement of lifting the executive order moratorium of offshore drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Last week Congressman Scalise met with Vice President Cheney and urged him to have the White House lift the executive ban. Scalise also met this morning at the White House with one of President Bush’s advisors, again urging that the OCS ban be lifted. Scalise said that the pressure from the White House will help put the pressure on Congress to act.

“The announcement from the White House will put more pressure on the liberal leadership in Congress that has continued to block efforts aimed at increasing the American supply of oil. The time for Congress to act is now,” Scalise said. “The issue is now solely in the hands of Congress and my bill, the GAS Act, would immediately lift the ban. The American people overwhelmingly support drilling in the OCS. With the price of gas having such an impact on our economy, we need to take action immediately. Once we remove the ban, the futures market will recognize our efforts to increase supply and the price of oil will start coming down.”

Until today there has been a legislative and an executive ban on drilling in the OCS. On June 18th, President Bush called on Congress to lift their moratorium. The President says that because Congress has not acted yet the White House moved first.

Congressman Scalise’s GAS Act will lift the drilling moratorium on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) as well as increase exploration of alternative sources of energy such as oil shale and tar sands. The bill will also increase the amount of revenue each state would get from offshore oil and gas activity, which in Louisiana would provide billions of dollars to restore our coast.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309