Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LANDRY. I would like to point out to my colleague that one of my colleagues, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), H.R. 56 puts into law a portion of that report. And since he is so interested in making sure that some of the information in the President's report becomes law, I certainly hope he will cosponsor that legislation. I am sure those in the gulf would appreciate that piece.

I didn't know that he was an expert in oil and gas drilling. Because when I go back home and I talk to those in Louisiana, they tell me that they have already instituted safety guidelines above and beyond what the gentleman from Massachusetts puts forth here.

The industry is safer today than it was the day before the Deepwater accident. In addition to that, we have the ability now, today, in the Gulf of Mexico, that no one else has in the world, to cap the type of incident that happened in the Gulf.

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Mr. LANDRY. The gentleman must not understand that he wants to reinstate the de facto moratorium that is plaguing the Gulf of Mexico with this amendment. It is exactly what he's trying to put in place, which is allow the administration to drag its feet not only on the wells on the drilling in deep water but also on the Shelf as well. He must also be confused, because what the Democrats have proposed, what the other side has proposed in removing the tax breaks for these companies, would make oil and gas--the Congressional Research Service has reported that proposal would make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase our foreign dependence.

What are we here to do today? We're here to bring relief to Americans at the pump and get the Gulf of Mexico back to work.

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