Isakson Again Urges Obama Administration to Issue Drilling Permits, Increase Domestic Oil Production

Press Release

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today again urged the Obama administration to issue more domestic offshore drilling permits. Yesterday, he joined his Republican colleagues in the Senate in cosponsoring The Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011 to restore American offshore oil production, improve safety standards to drilling and require bureaucrats to process permits efficiently.

The Offshore Production and Safety Act of 2011, S.953, was introduced by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as an alternative to the Democrats' recent proposal to increase taxes on domestic oil producers. Among other things, McConnell's energy bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct previously scheduled offshore lease sales in the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico, Virginia, and Alaska. It also extends lease terms by one year for Gulf leases that were suspended under the 2010 Obama moratorium.

Isakson believes that instead of raising taxes on U.S. companies that provide jobs, we should focus on developing America's energy resources to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, stimulate the U.S. economy and bring much-needed relief at the gas pump.

"As the price of gas continues to climb to $4 a gallon, Georgians are hurting and quite frankly, they're mad," said Isakson. "Families cannot afford an increase in gas prices, and any recovery of the American economy is hindered when gas prices are high. Unfortunately, the Democrats have proposed to raise taxes on domestic oil companies, which will do nothing to lower the price of gasoline. Instead, I strongly urge the Obama Administration to open up opportunities for domestic drilling and exploration of oil so that we can reduce the price families are paying at the pump and decrease our dependence on foreign oil."

In March 2011, following President Obama's statement that he wants the United States to become one of Brazil's best oil customers, Isakson sent a letter to President Obama strongly urging him to switch his focus from helping Brazil's economy to helping America's economy. Isakson also wrote in the letter that Obama shouldn't be promising to use American tax dollars to subsidize the development of Brazil's oil reserves, but should instead be seeking to explore and develop America's domestic energy resources and to lift moratoria on offshore drilling in the United States.

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