Barrow Votes Against Reducing America's Dependence On Foreign Oil

May-26, 2006

Barrow Votes Against Reducing America's Dependence On Foreign Oil

(Savannah, Georgia) - Max Burns, former Congressman and candidate for Georgia's new 12th District, today blasted Athens Congressman John Barrow for voting against, H.R. 5429, the American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act, which would have reduced America's dependence on mid-east oil and help America meet its increasing demand for energy. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bi-partisan support and now moves to consideration in the U.S. Senate.

"This morning I filled my car up and it was painful," said Burns. "I know folks all across the 12th District are experiencing the same troubles at the pump as my family so it's hard to believe that John Barrow would actually vote against legislation that would lessen our dependence on foreign oil."

The bill would implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program on the Coastal Plain of Alaska and open up just 2,000 acres of the nearly 20 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for the production of oil and gas resources.

"While in Congress, I voted for safe energy exploration and production in ANWR because it represented one of the biggest answers to how we meet America's increasing demand for energy and at the same time reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Burns. "For years, America has been researching different solutions to this problem, but nearly every answer has been met with stiff opposition from the liberal environmental groups. My opponent has received the endorsements of all the major environmental groups and he now rewards their support by voting against efforts that would help Georgia consumers. The fact is America needs more American-made energy and this bill is a good first step."

According to the House Committee on Resources, in 1980 Congress and President Carter created the nearly 20 million acre ANWR, but they set aside 1.5 million acres of its northern coastal plain for the purpose of future energy exploration and development. This parcel is known as the "1002" area, named after the section of the Act that set it aside for its energy resources. Energy exploration and production in ANWR will take place under the most stringent environmental protection requirements ever applied to a federal energy project, using the most sophisticated 21st Century technology available and be limited to just 2,000 acres of ANWR's "1002" area. ANWR could be the single largest conventional energy resource in America. At peak production, energy development on ANWR's northern coastal plain could deliver to the lower 48 states an additional 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, equivalent to the daily supply America lost in the Gulf of Mexico due to Hurricane Katrina and the amount America imports from Saudi Arabia every day. H.R. 5429 includes an export ban requiring all oil and natural gas produced on ANWR's northern Coastal Plain to stay in America.

In addition, Burns has been campaigning to expand the availability and use of alternative fuels. "I know Georgia farmers are the best providers of food and fiber in the world, and if we can grow it, we can eat it, drink it, wear it; then certainly we can burn it. I know alternative fuels, including bio-fuels, hold enormous promise for our state, and if readily available can be an efficient, affordable source of energy. In addition, the expanded use of these fuels can open new markets for Georgia 's agricultural products," added Burns.

http://www.maxburns.com/archive_detail.cfm?news_id=104