Washington, D.C. - House Republicans have passed two more bills in an aggressive push to stop the Obama Administration's assault on Gulf of Mexico energy jobs and start producing more American energy now. The latest bills accelerate the permit process for offshore oil and natural gas drilling and put a firm end to the President's drilling moratorium.
 
"I voted to end the Obama Administration's assault on Gulf energy jobs," said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the top Republican on the Joint Economic Committee and a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee. "With gas and milk both costing near $4 a gallon, we need to drill in the Gulf of Mexico to lower prices at the pump and decrease our dependence on foreign sources. Even the administration can't dispute the fact that more American energy production will mean more jobs and revenues for the U.S. Treasury."
 
The President's drawn out moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has decimated many Texas energy companies. "The Administration added insult to injury with their decision to reverse course and not proceed with new lease sales in the Gulf and offshore Virginia," said Brady. "Our legislation would lift that ban and move forward with new American energy production we so desperately need to get prices down."
 
Brady, who has no concerns that America's 9.5 million energy workers can meet every safety standard, says they just need the opportunity to compete and that's what this legislation provides. "It's been heartbreaking to watch these jobs and rigs move overseas," added Brady. "I wish the President would have taken the time while he in Texas this week to meet with our energy workers and hear the challenges they face. It would have been eye-opening for him."