Inhofe Introduces Amendment to Develop Energy Resources on Federal Lands, Create Jobs

Statement

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Tuesday introduced Amendment #2605 to the Senate's unemployment insurance extension bill (S.1845) that would give states the authority to unlock restrictions on developing energy resources on federal lands within their borders.

"Under the Obama Administration, our country has experienced one of the slowest economic recoveries in our nation's history. Those who are filing for unemployment benefits need jobs, and many of them want to work more than they want handouts from the government, but Senate Democrats continue to block common-sense solutions for job creation," said Inhofe. "Oklahoma has been able to maintain a much lower unemployment rate than the rest of the nation during this time because of our state's strong energy policies. My amendment to the unemployment insurance extension would help the rest of the nation experience the more stable economy we know so well here in Oklahoma. By empowering states to manage energy exploration and development on federal lands, we could see an upwards of 2.5 million additional new jobs across the nation as well as be one step closer to the bipartisan goal of energy independence."

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