In a blatant admission that increasing the world oil supply will affect prices, the Obama Administration today released 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). However, the SPR is not a political tool; it is intended for emergency situations when there is a dramatic shortfall in world oil supplies – which is not currently the case. The question must be… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced a release of 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve: “The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is intended for situations when there’s a dramatic supply shut down, not to achieve short-term political gain. However, this is a clear… Read more »

Today, the Obama Administration announced the formation of the White House Rural Council. The Council, to be chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, aims to “strengthen rural communities and promote economic growth.” However, the goals of the Council are at direct odds with the Obama Administration’s previous actions and job-killing agenda. Below is a breakdown of just a few of… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Committee held the third hearing in a series examining how to harness American resources to create jobs and address rising gasoline prices. Memorial Day unofficially marks the start of summer vacation season. However, witnesses at the hearing testified to the fact that high gasoline prices are disproportionately affecting seniors, working families and… Read more »

With 69 percent of Americans supporting increased offshore drilling, it’s no surprise that President Obama recently shifted positions in his weekly address and is now embracing increased oil and natural gas production as an answer to rising gasoline prices. While the President’s announcement generated headlines, a closer examination of the actual proposals shows that it’s big on hype and… Read more »

House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s weekly address: “In the last week, House Republicans passed three bipartisan bills that will create 1.2 million jobs, triple American offshore oil production and generate $840 million in revenue - real action to produce real American energy. It’s ironic that… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1231, the Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act, with a bipartisan vote of 243-179. Introduced by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, H.R. 1231 will lift the Obama Administration’s effective ban on new offshore drilling by requiring the areas in the Outer Continental Shelf with the most oil and natural gas to be… Read more »

Today, as part of the American Energy Initiative, the House of Representatives is poised to pass H.R. 1231, the third in a trio of bipartisan bills passed by the House and introduced by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) to increase American offshore energy production, create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign energy. H.R. 1230 passed the House on May 5, 2011 and… Read more »

Alaskan Congressman Don Young delivered the following statement (as prepared for delivery) on the House floor in support of H.R. 1231, the Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act: “Madame Chairman, Americans suffering from $4 gasoline must feel like their experiencing a sense of déjà vu. It was just three short years ago in 2008 when gasoline prices reached a record high of… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act, with a bipartisan vote of 263 to 163. Introduced by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, H.R. 1229 will end the Obama Administration’s de facto drilling moratorium in a safe, responsible, transparent manner – putting thousands of Americans back to work and increasing American energy… Read more »