Congressman Steve Scalise today released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted down President Obama's final 2012 -- 2017 OCS lease plan and substituted it with a new plan to open up more areas to safe domestic energy exploration and production.
"President Obama's only energy plan for the next five years is to keep doubling down on his failed agenda of shutting down areas that could produce domestic energy, costing us thousands of American jobs," Scalise said. "The House vote today highlights the striking difference between President Obama's failed agenda that closes off more than 85 percent of the OCS to domestic energy exploration, and a strong national energy strategy that safely increases our domestic energy production while creating thousands of American jobs and decreasing our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
"By saying no to exploration in the OCS, President Obama has also said no to thousands of American jobs while making our country more dependent on Middle Eastern oil. It's time for President Obama to work with us to develop a long-term plan to promote safe domestic energy production so America can finally reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil and increase our energy security."