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Press Release

President Obama Drops Atlantic in Offshore Plan To Polish His Reputation with the Far Left

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15, 2016 | Committee Press Office (202-225-2761)

House Committee on Natural Resources members issued the following statements in response to the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program proposal for 2017-2022:

“Today, the President chose to polish his reputation with far left special interests over the well-being of offshore workers, would-be entrepreneurs, and every American who will be deprived access to new, affordable energy sources,” Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT) said. “The termination of Atlantic development drives jobs, revenue and security away from coastal states like Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, and into the hands of Iran and OPEC. The idea that these policies are intended ‘to protect’ is the deceit of this Administration. Obama continues to do his very best to suffocate responsible energy development and erase all strides we’ve made over the last decade. This decision is a lose-lose for the people of this nation.” 

“It is downright shameful how radical groups used scare tactics to spread misleading and outright false information to communities across the Atlantic coast. This action proves to Americans that science is only settled or facts only factual when it fits neatly into the narrative constructed by the White House. We know that offshore energy development can be done safely and that it creates tens of thousands of jobs. We know that our economy needs the long term boost that energy jobs can provide. I am hopeful that a new Administration will choose to take another look at this issue through the long term lenses of economic development and energy security rather than seek cheap political points by continuing to oppose progress,” Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) stated.

“The Administration’s decision not to allow oil drilling in the Atlantic Ocean suggests a blatant disregard for the energy and economic realities this country is facing. We cannot continue to ignore the fact that fossil fuels are and will remain our dominant source of energy. Our people and our economy rely significantly on fossil fuels, and we must continue to encourage responsible exploration and development of our domestic supplies to satisfy that need,” Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) stated.