Ranking Republican Doc Hastings (R-WA)

In August 2008, candidate Obama declared "we can and should increase our domestic production of oil and natural gas."

Unfortunately, after inauguration, his administration took immediate action in February to prevent offshore drilling by delaying the Mineral Management Service's Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010 to 2015.

Despite standing in the way of new oil and gas development, President Obama continued to tell Americans that "we still need more oil, we still need more gas. If we've got some here in the United States that we can use, we should find it and do so in an environmentally sustainable way." However, his rhetoric has not been matched by action.

On Friday, 97 House Republicans joined me in sending this letter to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to officially encourage the Department to end the delay and finally move forward with expanded offshore oil and natural gas production that will create American energy and high paying American jobs.

With 14.7 million Americans out of work, it is more important than ever that we take steps to create American jobs and American energy. The Department of Interior is accepting public comment on the offshore drilling plan until September 21, 2009. All Americans should write Secretary Salazar and encourage the Administration to open access to America's the vast offshore resources.

Cross-posted at The Hill Blog on August 3, 2009.