WASHINGTON – Congressmen Bart Stupak (D-MI), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL),  Mark Green (R-WI), Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), John McHugh (R-NY), and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) offered an amendment to the Energy Bill that would permanently ban drilling for oil and gas in and under the Great Lakes. Unfortunately, the Republican lead Rules Committee refused to include their amendment in the Energy Bill. Several Members who sponsored the amendment held a press conference today to discuss their disappointment and layout options for moving forward on the banning issue.

“My colleagues in Congress have not heard the last on this ban on drilling in and under the Great Lakes. The issue has been included in the Democratic version of the Energy Bill and we are also encouraging Members in the Senate to continue to push for the ban when the Senate takes up the Bill,” Stupak said. “We simply must enact a permanent ban on drilling.  Members from Great Lakes States are committed to protecting this region’s most important natural resource and will continue to fight for this vital issue.”

This amendment would not impact inland drilling currently allowed by law. The current prohibition on drilling in or under the Great Lakes was included as part of the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.  The moratorium in place now is set to expire in 2007.  This moratorium was established to prevent potential dangerous drilling which could threaten the Great Lakes, the largest body of surface freshwater on the planet. This amendment would have made the ban permanent.

Last week when the Energy Bill was before the Energy and Commerce Committee, Stupak offered the amendment to ban drilling; however, in a procedural maneuver, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) amended the Stupak amendment by passing the issue off to the eight Great Lakes States for action.

 “Mike Rogers’ amendment is a watered down and toothless attempt to pretend that he cares about protecting our Great Lakes.  In reality, it does nothing to stop drilling in the Great Lakes,” Stupak said.  “What the Rogers amendment does, is to leave drilling policies up to the eight Great Lakes States and their legislatures.  We could have eight different policies on drilling under the lakes thanks to Mike Rogers. If Mr. Rogers really believes we should not drill in and under the Great Lakes, he would join me in taking this opportunity to permanently enact my ban.”

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