Lucas Applauds Decision to Lift Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling

Press Release

Lucas Applauds Decision to Lift Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling

President Bush announced yesterday that he will lift an 18-year old executive ban on offshore drilling along our nation's Outer Continental Shelf. The presidential directive, issued in 1990 by then-President George H.W. Bush and renewed in 1998 by then-President Bill Clinton, ordered the Department of the Interior to no longer issue oil and gas leases in deep ocean energy zones.

"The president has made a big step forward towards decreasing that pain at the pump that all Americans are feeling," stated Frank Lucas. "Now it's time for Congress to do the same by lifting the congressional restrictions on offshore drilling."

Congressional restrictions began in 1982 through restricted Department of Interior appropriations, such as denying necessary funds to lease offshore areas to oil and gas companies. For this reason, both the congressional and executive bans must be lifted in order to access the oil under the Outer Continental Shelf, which is estimated at billions of barrels.

"Increasing American-made energy, both in traditional and alternative sources, will not only decrease the price at the pump and our dependency on foreign oil," stated Lucas, "It will also encourage investment in the American economy, help to create jobs, and promote research and discovery in renewable fuels."

Congressman Lucas has been a staunch supporter of increasing American energy production, including cosponsoring legislation that would allow offshore drilling, improve and increase oil refining capacity, and encourage the research and development of alternative energy sources.

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