Letter to Lisa Murkowski, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - Offshore Drilling

Letter

Dear Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Cantwell,

We write to express our support for the inclusion of revenue sharing legislation in any offshore energy access legislation that the Energy and Natural Resources Committee may consider this Congress. As you know, the Mid- and South-Atlantic was included in the recently released Draft Proposed 2017-2022 Five Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing Program (DPP). We strongly believe that offshore energy and revenue sharing for coastal states go hand-in-hand and that any legislation considered by the Committee should reflect that view.

Offshore energy exploration can be an opportunity to diversify the economy and create jobs in the Mid- and South-Atlantic region, as well as a means to lessen our national reliance on foreign sources of energy. The offshore industry has coexisted with the military and commercial industries like fishing and tourism in other areas for many years, and we believe that oil and gas development can take place on the Outer Continental Shelf alongside our shared efforts to protect our waters and shoreline. In the Mid- and South-Atlantic as in the Gulf of Mexico, we all agree on the principle that coastal states deserve a portion of the revenue from energy production.

Bipartisan support for oil and gas development on the Atlantic OCS can be found at the federal, state and local levels. Our states want the opportunity to create new jobs, generate new revenue and make the United States more energy secure. As you work to develop energy legislation in the 114th Congress, we would appreciate the committee's consideration of revenue sharing so that Mid- and South-Atlantic states are provided a fair revenue share alongside Gulf Coast states.

We look forward to working with you as you look to shape future offshore energy policy.

Sincerely,