Gingrey Votes to Reduce U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Gingrey Votes to Reduce U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil

Bill Authorizes Oil Exploration and Production in ANWR

U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey today voted to address high oil prices by passing H.R. 5429, the American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act, legislation authorizing oil and gas exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Exploration in ANWR will be limited to a small number of acres - .01 percent of the refuge - and conducted under the most stringent environmental protection requirements ever applied to a federal energy project."

"Georgians are paying high prices at the gas pump while our nation is sitting on barrels of oil," said Gingrey. "The U.S. Department of the Interior estimates ANWR oil could supply the state of Georgia's energy needs for 54 years. This parcel of land was specifically set aside for the purpose of energy production by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, and every year we let it sit idle is another year Americans will to see rising energy prices eating up their family budget. The Senate must act now to allow drilling in ANWR."

"If you stopped by a gas station in Smyrna, Georgia today, you would pay $2.80 for gas," Gingrey continued. "One year ago, you would have paid $1.93, and two years ago, you would have paid $1.56. Prices keep going up, and if we don't start exploring domestic energy sources, I'm afraid to see what the good people of Georgia will be paying for gas two, five or ten years down the road. We need to explore new and alternative sources of energy, and ANWR is undoubtedly part of this solution."

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