Capito: Congress Must Lift Drilling Ban

Statement

Capito: Congress Must Lift Drilling Ban

Congresswoman Says Lawmakers Continue to Obstruct Energy Exploration Even Amidst Energy Price Spike

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) released the following statement today continuing her call for expanded domestic energy exploration and a truly comprehensive energy policy that promotes energy self-reliance to put downward pressure on gas prices:

"For years Congress has blocked efforts to expand our nation's domestic production of energy off-shore and in Alaska, and now we're paying the price at the pump," said Capito. "It's well past time to see that policy reversed.

"There are currently more than 175 trillion cubic feet of natural gas resources and more than 1.1 trillion barrels of oil that are off limits for domestic production. With gas prices at more than $4.00 per gallon we can no longer afford to let these resources sit idle.

"Obviously we cannot simply drill our way out of this problem and there's no doubt that domestic exploration must be coupled with investment in renewable resources like wind, solar or biomass - but to ignore our immense domestic resources is short-sighted and irrational. Domestic crude oil production is down more than 12% since 2000 not because of a shortage of new oil wells, but because the Congress has kept some of our most energy-rich regions off-limits for drilling.

"Continued obstruction from House leadership on this issue will do nothing to help West Virginia families that are struggling with high gas prices, and I implore Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team to finally listen to the 67% of the American people who are calling for expanded domestic production, and the nearly unanimous population of West Virginians who want to pay lower prices at the pump."

Source