Congressman Flake and Senator Craig Introduce Legislation to Expand Energy Options

Congressman Flake and Senator Craig Introduce Legislation to Expand Energy Options

Bill Will Permit American Companies to Develop Energy Resources in Neighboring Waters

Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, a member of the House International Relations Committee and House Resources Committee, today introduced a bill (H.R. 5353) that will allow American companies to develop energy resources in Cuban-controlled waters. Senator Larry Craig of Idaho, second in seniority on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is introducing the bill in the Senate.

U.S. law prevents American companies from drilling within 150 miles of most of the U.S. shore, but China is drilling in Cuban waters 50 miles from U.S. shores. U.S. law also prevents American companies from competing in the region with China, a country with conflicting interests and weaker environmental standards.

"Congress has kicked around a lot of silly ideas about how best to ease our energy crunch," said Flake. "There needs to be a compelling reason why American firms are barred from exploring energy resources so close to home, and I'm not sure that a 45-year-old failed embargo qualifies as a compelling reason."

http://flake.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=43533