House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s energy address:

“The President today announced a goal to cut U.S. oil imports by one-third. I share that goal and believe it’s crucial to our national security. In fact, just yesterday I introduced legislation that would achieve a one-third decline in oil imports by requiring the Obama Administration to conduct lease sales in offshore areas where we have the most oil and natural gas resources. These are areas that the Obama Administration has placed off-limits to new energy production.

“While the President and I share the same goal, we have very different ways of getting there. The President wants to decrease imports by telling Americans to use less and to pay more. Republicans want to decrease imports by increasing U.S. production - while simultaneously creating American jobs, raising revenue to help pay down the national debt, lowering energy costs and increasing our energy independence. I hope the President would be willing to work with Congress in achieving his goal to cut imports by unlocking our American energy resources.”

Background
House Republicans introduced the American Energy Initiative, an ongoing effort to address rising gasoline prices and expand American energy production. As part of this initiative, Chairman Hastings introduced three bills yesterday to expand offshore energy production, create jobs and lower energy prices. Click here for more information on the legislation.

During the President’s speech he recycled several misleading claims on American energy production. Click the links below to get the facts.

• Fact Checking the Obama Administration’s Energy Production Claims
• President Asks for Report on “Use it or Lose it,” Interior Department Concocts Definitions to Grab Headlines
• Democrats Attempt to Resurrect Old “Use It or Lose It” Myth

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