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Representative MikeKelly Votes for Increased Domestic Oil Production

May 6, 2011

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Julia Thornton

May 6, 2011

202-525-0182

 

Representative MikeKelly Votes for Increased Domestic Oil Production

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) voted yesterday in support of the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R. 1230), which would require the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to move forward with four oil and natural gas lease sales that the Obama Administration had either canceled or delayed. H.R. 1230 establishes statutory deadlines by which the lease sales, located throughout the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of Virginia, would need to take place. The legislation passed the House with bi-partisan support by a vote of 266-149.  Rep. Kelly released the following statement:

“At the height of U.S. domestic oil production in 1970, America produced 9.6 million barrels of oil a day. Today, we only produce 5.5 million barrels, and the number keeps declining.  The Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act works to reverse this downward trend, moving forward with domestic energy projects that will help address rising gas prices while creating new jobs.

“The American people know that our current energy policy is not workingand they’re calling for action. According to a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey, 69 percent of Americans favor increased offshore drilling, and with the summer driving season fast approaching, their frustration over record high gas prices will only grow stronger.

“While President Obama was in Brazil this winter to show his support for Brazilian offshore drilling, American oil tankers in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shores of Virginia sat idle, unable to harness America’s vast natural energy sources because the Obama Administration forbade them to do so.

“Well yesterday, the House, with support from both sides of the aisle, voted to remove those barriers to domestic production, putting those tankers and the people running them back to work. We can’t become energy independent by promoting oil production overseas while blocking production here at home. It doesn’t make sense and it doesn’t make good policy. And yesterday, we did our part toput an end to it.”

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