Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, with a bipartisan vote of 235-186. This legislation, sponsored by Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04), would expand U.S. offshore energy production in order to create new American jobs, lower energy prices, grow our economy, and strengthen America’s national security.

“President Obama came into office with a tremendous opportunity to expand America’s offshore oil and natural gas production. Instead, he said NO to new American jobs and NO to new American energy by canceling lease sales, placing more offshore areas off-limits, and effectively re-imposing an offshore drilling moratorium. It’s no surprise that offshore energy production has declined since President Obama took office,” said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings. “Safe and responsible development of America’s energy resources is vital to American energy security. With the passage of this legislation, America will be on the path to create over 1 million new jobs, lower energy prices, and generate $1.5 billion in new revenue by removing government barriers that are currently blocking access to American energy resources.”

The Offshore Energy and Jobs Act would open new areas to offshore energy production, including areas off the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, by requiring the Obama Administration to implement a new five-year offshore lease plan that includes areas containing the greatest amount of oil and natural gas resources. President Obama’s current lease plan keeps 85 percent of our offshore areas closed to energy production. H.R. 2231 would also require offshore leases to be held off the coasts of South Carolina and Virginia – the latter of which was scheduled to take place in 2011 but was canceled by the Obama Administration; establish fair, equitable revenue sharing for all coastal states; and implement reforms to improve the safety and efficiency of the Interior Department’s offshore agencies.

For more information, visit /legislation/HR2231

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