House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement praising Alaska Governor Sean Parnell and Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan’s plan to offer additional state lands and offshore waters for oil and natural gas exploration:

“I applaud Governor Parnell for his active leadership in increasing oil and natural production and setting important goals to ensure the Trans Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) remains full and operational. The State of Alaska is doing its part to increase American energy production and the Obama Administration needs to step up to do the same.

“I recently toured Alaska’s vast energy resources with Governor Parnell and saw firsthand the obstacles that exist to developing our oil and natural gas resources on federal lands in Alaska. From onshore resources including the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), to offshore resources in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, the Obama Administration is refusing to issue permits and keeping vital energy projects bogged down in red tape. To help address this problem, I’ve introduced legislation (H.R. 2150) to ensure that NPR-A resources are developed and transported in a timely and efficient manner.

“The problem of developing our energy resources on federal lands stretches far beyond Alaska. All across the country, both onshore and offshore, the Obama Administration has repeatedly taken action to block and delay access to American energy resources. House Republicans have already passed legislation to unlock our energy resources and will continue to actively promote American energy production in order to create American jobs and strengthen our national security.”

###

Printable PDF of this document