Tiahrt: Fig Leaf Energy Bill Offers No Protection For American Families

Press Release

U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt today opposed the Democrat's political fig leaf on energy by voting against H.R. 6899, a hastily-crafted bill that fails to offer meaningful energy solutions to lower gas prices and make America more energy independent.

"The Democrat's fig leaf energy bill introduced late last night and debated today offers no protection for Kansas families struggling with high energy costs," said Tiahrt. "The bill is nothing short of a sham. It does not comprehensively address conservation, sustainable investments in alternative and renewable energy, and exploration for more natural energy resources.

"What it does include is more bureaucratic red tape for energy businesses, more tax hikes, and more permanent prohibitions on oil shale and off-shore exploration. This bill is an embarrassing attempt to offer political coverage for vulnerable Democrats whose constituents are demanding Congress take action to lower energy costs.

"We need an all-of-the above energy solution to help struggling families lower their energy bills and that will boost our economy with high-quality, high-paying American jobs. This bill is fig-leaf thin and offers no protection for American families."

H.R. 6899 would allow states to "opt-in" to drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf 50-100 miles off of their coast, excluding the eastern Gulf of Mexico as well as Georges Bank. The bill does not include any revenue-sharing provisions for coastal States, thus making it highly unlikely States will choose to opt-in to the program. Provisions also included in the bill will permanently lock up a majority of America's vast natural energy resources, including: 80 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf, more than 1 trillion barrels of oil shale in the Inter-Mountain West and more than 10 billion barrels of oil on Alaska's North Slope.

H.R. 6899 fails to include lawsuit reform, increased production of nuclear energy, development of clean coal energy facilities, or increased domestic refinery production provisions.

The Democrat leadership introduced the 290-page text of H.R. 6899 at 9:45 p.m. Monday giving only 12 hours through the night for Member of Congress to review the bill before it was brought to the House floor. The Democrats held no hearings on the bill and allowed no Republican amendments to be offered effectively shutting down any meaningful energy debate.

Tiahrt is a co-sponsor of the Americans for American Energy Act (H.R. 6384) that proposes financial and regulatory incentives to encourage the production of more American energy from virtually all resources and technologies. It also allocates revenues generated from increased domestic production to fund conservation and efficiency efforts. In addition, the bill would help establish a steady and reliable funding source for the research, development and deployment of next-generation energy technologies.

H.R. 6899 passed by a vote of 236-189.

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