Twenty five groups from across the country are calling for passage of Republican legislation to expand American energy production. From groups focused on economic development to seniors issues to fiscal conservatism, these organizations have come together to support H.R. 2231, the Offshore and Energy Jobs Act, which could create 1.2 million jobs long-term and generate $1.5 billion in new revenue.

What They’re Saying about H.R. 2231:

60 Plus Association

“We applaud your efforts to respond to the overwhelming concern America‘s seniors and soon-to-be seniors have about the threat energy dependence on foreign resources has on our national security and economic stability.”

American Chemistry Council

“Current federal policies directly and indirectly encourage new demand for natural gas in several important end markets, including power generation, transportation and as an export commodity. At the same time, demand for natural gas from energy-intensive industries is growing…With this increased demand pull on natural gas, government must ensure that policies regarding access to resources on federal lands do not prevent new sources of supply from keeping pace with demand growth…HR 2231 is the course correction America needs to set federal OCS policy in the right direction.”

American Petroleum Institute

“The United States has an opportunity that few nations ever get. We have a chance to be a dominant player in global energy markets and guarantee our energy security for decades to come. Expanded domestic energy production will create tens of thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars of revenues for federal and state governments, and make us a more energy secure nation. We can realize these benefits by developing our oil and natural gas resources off our coasts in the Atlantic, Pacific, the Arctic and eastern Gulf of Mexico.”

Americans for Tax Reform

“The Obama administration's anti-growth policies that prohibit development of America's natural resources require legislative correction. Chairman Doc Hastings has introduced legislation that would replace the President’s 5-year offshore plan and allow job creators to safely produce oil and natural gas off our Outer Continental Shelf. I strongly urge all Members of the House to support these essential efforts.”

Consumer Energy Alliance

“CEA believes that expanded offshore energy development is vital to long-term energy security and affordability and economic expansion. According to a 2010 assessment by IHS Global Insight, the offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas industry generated almost $70 billion of economic value and supported nearly 400,000 jobs in 2009. That same year, the industry provided about $20 billion in revenues to federal, state and local governments through royalties, bonuses and rents. Further expansion of access, particularly in offshore areas currently off-limits, could boost domestic energy production and grow the economy.”

Energy Producing States Coalition

“EPSC believes that expanded domestic energy development is vital to economic growth and job creation. In the midst of the recent economic downtown, the energy sector led economic growth and job creation and will likely continue to do so. Further expansion of access, particularly in offshore areas currently off-limits, would likely boost domestic energy production, stimulate necessary job creation, and grow the economy.”

Heritage Action

“The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would allow the United States to take better advantage of an incredible amount of natural resources in the outer Continental Shelf area, which is considered to have the largest undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources. Heritage has explained the government needs to move aside and let private industry operate freely, especially in light of the weak U.S. economy. Doing so would help create jobs and increase our domestic oil production, which would in turn save American families money.”

Independent Petroleum Association of America

“[R]ecent increases in oil and natural gas production on state and private land have created thousands of good-paying jobs, bolstered local economic vitality, and contributed greatly to our nation’s greater energy security. Despite many successes, access to the nation’s offshore oil and natural gas supplies remains significantly blocked by a prohibitive regulatory framework which keeps 85 percent of offshore areas excluded from energy production… The IPAA believes that H.R. 2231 would help address many of the ill-crafted regulatory policies that have constricted American offshore development.”

Industrial Energy Consumers of America

“Expanding domestic production of energy resources creates jobs and increases the affordability of energy for the manufacturing sector. Increasing access to federal lands for natural gas and oil drilling will support increased domestic production. IECA supports an ‘all-of-the-above’ approach for energy production that includes natural gas, oil, coal and renewable energy.”

National Association of Manufacturers

"According to a study by Wood Mackenzie Energy Consulting, policies that encourage domestic oil and gas exploration could add 1.1 million jobs by 2020 and four million barrels’ worth of oil and natural gas per day. Energy is the lifeblood of manufacturers, and having a secure, reliable and affordable supply of energy is vital to our success. There is no questioning our nation’s abundance of oil and natural gas resources. The NAM supports an “all-of-the-above” energy policy and strongly believes that a commitment to oil and gas exploration is a major part of it.”

National Federation of Independent Business

“NFIB supports expanding domestic energy production, including lifting moratoriums on offshore drilling. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and Enforcement estimates that America’s Outer Continental Shelf contains nearly 86 billion barrels of oil, enough oil to replace OPEC imports for 50 years. Lifting the OCS ban is important in meeting our nation’s energy needs, breaking our dependence on foreign oil, and reducing prices for American small businesses, their employees and consumers. Increasing fuel prices hit small businesses particularly hard, because unlike their larger competitors, they often absorb these cost increases instead of passing them on to their customers.”

National Ocean Industries Association

"The Offshore Energy Jobs Act capitalizes on the extraordinary energy opportunity facing America today. While the United States has closed offshore areas to exploration, other countries are exploring off their coasts. We stand at a crossroads of being a part of securing jobs and energy for the next generation or letting others produce and sell us energy and supply others with well-paying jobs. Passage of this bill puts us on the right track."

Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition

“While 20 percent of our nation’s oil and gas production comes from the offshore, the Department of the Interior estimates that there are 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 cubic feet of gas on the Outer Continental Shelf. Under the current Administration’s 5-Year Plan on the Outer Continental Shelf (“OCS”), approximately 85% of our offshore areas remain off limits to energy exploration and production. Therefore, current policy keeps the public in the dark about the full potential of the OCS in meeting our nation’s energy challenges. While policy-makers have great differences about the future direction of U.S. energy policy, there is a stated consensus that in order to solve our nation’s energy challenges, we need an all-of-the-above energy strategy. The Hastings Bill is part of the solution.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

“The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would expand access to areas that have been off limits for decades, including its explicit inclusion of Lease Sale 220 adjacent to Virginia, and establish oil and natural gas production targets for DOI to follow when formulating leasing programs…The U.S. is blessed with a bounty of energy resources, but current policies presume the opposite and act as barriers to securing America’s energy future as well as the tremendous economic benefits energy production brings. The Chamber supports H.R. 2231 and appreciates your consideration.”

Additional Organizations Supporting Passage of H.R. 2231:

Alaska Support Industry Alliance
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Highway Users Alliance
American Iron and Steel Institute
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce
National Tax Limitation Committee
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Northwest Mining Association
OffshoreAlabama.com
Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association
U.S. Oil and Gas Association

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