End The Jobs Moratorium

Press Release

Louisiana Congressman Bill introduced an amendment to the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act today to overturn the President's moratorium on deepwater drilling.

"There is no reasonable justification for this moratorium," said Cassidy. "As the Administration's handpicked engineers point out, the moratorium does not reduce risk, but does cause immeasurable economic harm to the people and communities most affected by the spill in the Gulf. It represents the triumph of partisan politics over reason, science, and tens of thousands of Louisiana jobs."

Cassidy's amendment would overturn the Obama Administration's May 30 and July 12 directives instituting a moratorium on deepwater drilling by stating that they "shall have no force or effect." The amendment would also guard against any future moratoria by stating that "No Federal official may establish any general moratorium on or suspension of offshore oil and gas operations that is substantially similar to the moratorium, the decision memorandum, or any suspension referred to in subsection."

Cassidy introduced an identical amendment when the CLEAR Act was up for consideration in the Natural Resources Committee last week. Despite picking up bipartisan support from Democratic Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (WV), Cassidy's amendment was defeated in Committee by a vote of 22 -- 26.

Cassidy's amendment will be up for consideration tonight when the House Rules Committee convenes to establish the Rule governing debate on the CLEAR Act. The CLEAR Act is slated for a vote in the House Friday.

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