Unfinished Business

Statement

Despite much work left to do in the 111th Congress, the House of Representatives and Senate adjourned a week and a half ago and headed home for the October recess. Many members will be campaigning for re-election, and others, like myself, will continue to serve the people in their districts.

It is astounding to me, and probably disheartening to you, that with so much left on the table, Washington Democrats decided to adjourn a week early. Congress left Washington without addressing the extension of the Bush tax cuts, and for the first time since 1974, did not approve a budget.

In addition to these basic legislative elements, the job-killing moratorium on offshore drilling is still in place. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) finally released the long-awaited new rules for all offshore drilling. For months, the Louisiana delegation has requested these rules in the hopes of ending the moratorium and getting residents back to work. These rules can finally give the industry some direction and certainty, but do not end the moratorium. Last week I pressed BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich as to how soon an oil company can resume drilling if they have these rules in place. Mr. Bromwich stated that he had no answer due to the fact that the BOEMRE still would not have the manpower in place to issue new permits, for deep or shallow water, to resume drilling for some time.

Businesses along the Gulf have done their part to stave off job losses, but time is running out. If this moratorium is not lifted soon, not only Louisiana's economy, but the entire country, will suffer. This is unfinished business that needs to be addressed now, and can only be brought to the floor by Majority leadership in Washington. Be assured, I will continue this fight through the October recess and however long it takes until these issues are resolved. Louisiana's livelihoods and way of life depends on it.

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