Congressman Rivera: American Energy Initiative Good for the Economy, Will Create Jobs & Revenue

Press Release

On Tuesday and Wednesday the House of Representatives began consideration on three bills passed by the House Committee on Natural Resources last week. The American Energy Initiative bills deal with expanding American offshore energy production; the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act, the Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act and the Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act.

"Since last year, American domestic oil production has decreased by 16 percent and gas prices are at upwards of four dollars per gallon. Consumers see the effects of rising fuel costs in their daily lives; and my constituents are being squeezed by these rising prices. The Obama Administration does not seem to have a coherent plan to expand supplies and help ease price pressure, but House Republicans do," said Congressman David Rivera (FL-25) a member of the House Natural Resources Committee.

"The American Energy Initiatives being presented by House Republicans aim to increase American energy production so that we can decrease our dependence on oil from an increasingly unstable Middle East. We have to expand domestic energy production, not only through additional oil drilling, but also by implementing clean, safe and renewable energy alternatives putting America's domestic supplies and technologies to good use," Rivera said. "I am committed to the development of clean, renewable energy resources to reduce our reliance on carbon emitting fossil fuels. Our economic competitiveness, our environmental health and our national security are dependent on this.

"In the short term, however, alternative fuels cannot eliminate the need for oil and natural gas. The American Energy Initiative bills are crucial first steps to begin the job of expanding domestic energy sources. The growth of domestic energy is good for the American economy. It will mean that American families will pay less for everything from gasoline to food. These bills could create an estimated 250,000 jobs in the short-term, and more than 1.2 million jobs in the long-term--and lead to revenue growth that will help reduce the debt and deficit," Rivera concluded.

The Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct oil and natural gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shore of Virginia that have been delayed or cancelled by the Obama Administration since last year.

The Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act will end the de facto moratorium put into place by the Obama Administration in May 2010 on all shallow-water and deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The goal of the bill is to put thousands of Americans back to work while increasing American energy production that will address rising gas prices.

The Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act lifts the President's ban on new offshore drilling and requires the Administration to move forward on American energy production in areas rich in oil and natural gas resources.

Source