Senate Offshore Bill Could Open Pandora's Box

Senate approval of fiscally irresponsible legislation to open a large portion of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore drilling is unfortunate. This will be worse news for America, however, if the Senate bill becomes the vehicle for enacting the extreme offshore drilling legislation that the House of Representatives passed in June, said Republicans for Environmental Protection, a national grassroots organization.

"The Senate bill is not a balanced or long-term energy answer, as it does nothing to advance energy efficiency or diversify our country's fuel mix. The more serious issue with the legislation is that it could become a vehicle for passage of the far more radical House bill, which would undo longstanding coastal protections, threaten the economies of numerous coastal communities, and perpetuate our country's dangerous dependence on oil," said REP Policy Director Jim DiPeso.

"REP urges the Senate to avoid a deal with the House that would allow any of the House bill's destructive provisions to become law. Instead of fixating on drilling, Congress needs to finally focus on responsible energy policies that improve energy efficiency and diversify our energy choices. Those are the lasting energy solutions for a country that holds less than 3 percent of the world's proven oil reserves. Not only will they lessen our dangerous oil dependence, they will reduce pollution, and accelerate commercialization of the job-producing energy technologies of tomorrow," said REP Government Affairs Director David Jenkins.

Source: Republicans for Environmental Protection

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