Congressman Davis Supports Domestic Energy Drilling, Expansion of Nation's Renewable Energy PortfolioSeptember 17, 2008

Washington, D.C. After failed attempts by a handful of Republicans to block an energy bill, which calls for more domestic drilling and expansion of renewable energy, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed comprehensive legislation aimed at lowering fuel prices for America's working families. Congressman Lincoln Davis voted for the Comprehensive Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act.

"During all my travels throughout the district, I've talked with families, small business owners, and local school district supervisors who tell me they are severely hampered by high fuels prices," said Congressman Davis. "I believe we need to drill domestically where we can as soon as possible. At the same time, we need to strategically plan ahead, instead of relying on politically expedient slogans, so we don't keep finding ourselves in the same position. Alternative and renewable fuels along with conservation measures need to be part of our long-term plan."

The Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act came together utilizing many components meant to lessen our dependence on foreign sources of oil. The legislation launches a clean renewable energy future, expands domestic energy supplies by allowing more drilling, creates jobs and builds sorely needed infrastructure, releases oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and calls for greater efficiency and conservation.

The legislation appropriately opens millions of previously closed acres in the Outer Continental Shelf and Alaska, tripling the territory for offshore drilling. The legislation includes environmental protections for marine national monuments and Defense Department authority measures to assure national defense areas will remain in place. Additionally, the bill opens federal shale oil reserves in Western states for exploration.

The most forward looking component of the legislation demands that we make renewable energy an essential part of our future that will strengthen our national security and put Americans to work, not laborers in foreign countries. Provisions in the bill call for the research and development of cellulosic biofuels to be produced from a highly diverse array of feedstocks, similar to what is already happening in our own backyard in Tennessee.

In the past, during times of high fuel prices, the government has released oil from the Strategic Oil Reserve, which this bill is requiring the government to do now. This Congress has consistently called for oil to flow from the government's stockpile to alleviate the burden American consumers are carrying.

"The underlying question remains to be seen: will this bill be signed into law so it can immediately begin helping America's families or will it be held hostage due to political calculation," said Davis. "For the sake of our future, I will be working so it's not the latter."