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Washington D.C.- Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, today issued the following statement after press outlets reported that House Democrats will give in to Republican pressure and will drop their effort to extend the current prohibitions on energy leasing on most of the Outer Continental Shelf and on oil shale leasing on federal lands.
On October 1, the current prohibitions on energy leasing on most of the Outer Continental Shelf and on oil shale leasing on federal lands will expire. Earlier this month, Chairman Hensarling and Rep. Shadegg led an effort to gather signatures on a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi on behalf of the millions of Americans feeling pain at the gas pump and seeking to increase production of American energy. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) led the effort in the Senate. 155 House Republicans signed on to the letter, as did 39 Republicans in the Senate.
“According to press reports, Republicans and the American people have ensured that on October 1st, the bans on offshore drilling and oil shale recovery will come to an end, enabling us to finally develop more American energy. I am so proud of all of my Republican colleagues in the House who joined in our effort to ensure that Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in the House and Senate could not continue to actively block American energy exploration.
“For months now, Republicans have fought on behalf of the millions of Americans across the country who begged Congress to allow the development of American-made energy. Though I am anxious to see the final bill language to confirm press reports, I am thrilled to read that on October 1, millions of Americans will be able celebrate Energy Freedom Day as we take a much needed step toward energy independence.”
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