[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 140 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 140

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that domestic oil 
and gas resources are critical to our Nation's security and economy and 
     the Secretary of the Interior should take immediate action to 
        streamline the shallow and deepwater permitting process.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 3, 2011

  Mr. Gene Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Boren, Ms. Jackson Lee of 
Texas, Mr. Costa, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. 
Boustany, Mr. McCaul, Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, Mr. Nunnelee, Mr. Young of 
    Alaska, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Akin, Mr. Paul, Mr. 
 Culberson, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
 Kinzinger of Illinois, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. 
Bucshon, Mr. Olson, Mrs. Roby, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mr. 
Griffin of Arkansas, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Canseco, Mr. Bonner, Mr. Gonzalez, 
    Mr. Latta, Mr. Rehberg, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Ross of 
Arkansas, Mr. Fincher, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. 
   Harper, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Coffman of Colorado, Mr. 
   Renacci, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. McHenry, Mrs. Adams, Mr. Hall, Mr. 
 McKinley, Mr. Dent, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Austin 
  Scott of Georgia, Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Ms. Jenkins, Mr. Davis of 
 Kentucky, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Benishek, Mr. Carter, Mr. Flores, 
  Mr. Richmond, Mr. Coble, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. 
 Daniel E. Lungren of California, Mr. Cuellar, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Duncan 
of Tennessee, Mrs. Black, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Fleming, 
   Mr. Simpson, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Reyes, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
Texas, Mr. Al Green of Texas, and Mr. Hinojosa) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that domestic oil 
and gas resources are critical to our Nation's security and economy and 
     the Secretary of the Interior should take immediate action to 
        streamline the shallow and deepwater permitting process.

Whereas the Gulf of Mexico produces about 30 percent of oil in the United States 
        and 10 percent of natural gas in the United States;
Whereas, on May 30, 2010, the Department of the Interior enacted a deepwater 
        moratorium which lasted until October 12, 2010;
Whereas more than 400,000 jobs across the Gulf Coast are tied to the offshore 
        drilling industry;
Whereas, in 2009, the offshore drilling industry accounted for $70,000,000,000 
        in economic value and provided about $20,000,000,000 in revenue to 
        Federal, State, and local governments through royalties, bonuses, and 
        tax collections;
Whereas the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and 
        Offshore Drilling recognized the importance of the industry in a report, 
        stating, ``the development of offshore energy resources contributes 
        substantially to local economies, supporting businesses small and large 
        and employing tens of thousands of workers'';
Whereas the Department of the Interior has issued only 37 new shallow water 
        permits since the shallow water moratorium was lifted and only 1 new 
        permit for deepwater exploration; and
Whereas, as a result of the de facto moratorium, at least 12 rigs (shallow and 
        deepwater) have departed the Gulf of Mexico, and more are expected to 
        follow: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the Nation's economy and security depends upon full and 
        immediate restoration of shallow and deepwater drilling 
        operations in the Gulf of Mexico;
            (2) the long-term economic health of the State of Alaska 
        depends upon the responsible development of the oil and natural 
        gas reserves of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas; and
            (3) the Secretary of the Interior should--
                    (A) streamline the review and appropriate approval 
                of applications for both shallow and deepwater drilling 
                permits in the Outer Continental Shelf;
                    (B) take immediate action to provide the shallow 
                and deepwater industry with a completed sample 
                application which meets all of the new safety and 
                environmental regulations for use as a template;
                    (C) provide written guidance and clarification to 
                applicants regarding new safety requirements; and
                    (D) provide permit applicants with timely and 
                detailed explanations on any areas of a permit which do 
                not satisfy new requirements.
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