Rep. Melancon Calls for President to Lift Drilling Moratorium

Press Release

Today, U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to lift the ban on deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in his speech to the nation tonight. Louisiana Congressmen Rodney Alexander and Charles Boustany joined Congressman Melancon in signing the letter.

Congressman Melancon wrote, "Louisiana's delegation stands united in our opposition to any kind of moratorium on offshore drilling. We believe that new safety measures can be quickly and effectively implemented so that thousands of Louisianians will not lose their jobs and our coastal economy will not be further harmed by the effects of the oil disaster."

The letter continued, "We write today to urge you to lift the ban on deep-water drilling and announce a safe, efficient way forward for domestic energy production in your speech to the nation Tuesday evening."

Congressman Melancon's letter concluded, "We have a working coast and our people are clamoring to get back to work in deep-water and shallow-water drilling jobs that have sustained our state for decades. There would be no better time than tonight for you to demonstrate that you have heard loud and clear the voice of Louisianians who oppose any moratorium on offshore drilling."

Click here to read the full letter.

The offshore energy industry is a major economic engine for south Louisiana, providing thousands of jobs and supporting numerous locally-based service companies in Congressman Melancon's Congressional district. Congressman Melancon has been pressing the Administration to end the moratorium on deep-water drilling and clarify new regulations for shallow-water drilling that have created a "de facto" moratorium in the Gulf.

Wednesday, Congressman Melancon and a bipartisan delegation of Gulf Coast lawmakers will be meeting with Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to discuss options for ending the moratorium, while still addressing the worker safety and environmental issues raised by the Deepwater disaster. Congressman Melancon led the delegation letter requesting this meeting.

Yesterday, Congressman Melancon joined the entire Louisiana delegation in asking the President to meet with them to discuss how to end the current six-month moratorium on deep-water drilling as quickly as possible. In his meeting with President Obama last week, Congressman Melancon asked him directly to speed up the federal review of offshore rigs so the moratorium could end before it further harmed Louisiana's economy.

Congressman Melancon has been leading efforts in Louisiana to coordinate the private, federal, state, and local response to the oil leak caused by the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform on April 20th. He represents in Congress the areas of coastal Louisiana most directly affected by the oil leak, including Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne, Lafourche and southern Jefferson Parishes. The Deepwater Horizon platform was located 50 miles off the coast of Louisiana's Third Congressional District.

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