IV 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 140 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

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.