Boustany Defends America's Energy Production Against Excessive Government Regulations

Statement

Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., M.D., (R-South Louisiana) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2838, the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011:

"I am pleased to have voted in favor of the Notice of Arrival (NOA) Act (H.R. 1844) as part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill. I introduced the NOA Act to amend the Security and Accountability for Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 by clarifying that a notice of arrival is not required for certain documented vessels. Having worked together with the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to remove overburdening regulations, I am pleased this has been adopted as a part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill so Louisiana offshore service businesses will be able to earn a living while continuing to create jobs off the coast of South Louisiana.

"Under the SAFE Port Act of 2006, Congress specifically applied notice of arrival requirements only to foreign vessels engaged in activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the United States. This was enacted to enhance the monitoring and oversight of foreign vessels operating in the coastal regions of the United States. However, those regulations also applied the notice of arrival reporting requirements to U.S.-flagged offshore service vessels on the OCS. The burden of reporting will more heavily impact the U.S. fleet on the OCS versus foreign vessels than intended. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard is not fully equipped or prepared to implement the administration of the unnecessary and burdensome reports.

"However, there is a stand-by vessel provision in H.R. 2838 which would create excessive regulations on energy producers and hinders the progress we have made in order to re-start Gulf energy production. Like many in the maritime, oil, and natural gas industries, I am opposed to implementing additional regulations when current operating standards already adequately address safety. I will continue to vigorously defend our country's ability to maximize energy production and will continue to work with the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and Senate to fight these unnecessary provisions."

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