[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DEEP OCEAN ENERGY RESOURCES ACT OF 2006

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2006

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4761) to 
     provide for exploration, development, and production 
     activities for mineral resources on the outer Continental 
     Shelf, and for other purposes:

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong 
opposition to the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act (H.R. 4761). The 
``DOER'' Act is yet another lost opportunity to develop real solutions 
to our energy challenges and a reckless raid on the Federal Treasury 
that even the Bush Administration opposes.
  The DOER Act will repeal a 25-year, bipartisan moratorium on oil and 
gas drilling off most of the U.S. coastline. In place of the 
moratorium, a weak system of protections will be established that 
allows individual states to sanction drilling within 100 miles of their 
shores. To entice states to permit drilling, the bill increases states' 
share of drilling royalties from the current ceiling of 27 percent to 
64 percent.
  Bush administration officials released a statement today strongly 
opposing the revenue-sharing provisions of the bill, which are expected 
to add several hundred billion dollars to the federal deficit over the 
next 60 years. The diversion of more drilling royalties to states is a 
transparent, irresponsible ploy that will cost the government billions. 
But Republican leaders are so unconcerned about runaway federal 
deficits they decided to waive the rules of the Congressional Budget 
Act that are supposed to protect taxpayers from deficit spending.
  While the bill's proponents argue this revenue-sharing arrangement is 
a matter of states' rights, the language of H.R. 4761 actually gives 
the administration enormous new powers over states. The bill limits 
states' ability to block pipeline construction and to review oil 
drilling activities once drilling is allowed. H.R. 4761 also allows the 
Secretary of the Interior to threaten states with a loss of funding if 
Congress passes legislation restricting oil drilling in any way. And, 
by rolling back environmental reviews and mitigation responsibilities 
for oil companies, the bill imposes hidden costs on states and their 
tourism industries, which will be left with the tab for drilling-
related mishaps.
  The Republicans declared this week ``Energy Week'' in the House and 
then moved one bill, H.R. 4761 to the floor. This legislation, 
apparently the Republicans' solution to America's complex energy 
challenges, includes no new incentives for energy conservation, no 
increases in fuel efficiency, no new support for mass transit and no 
boost for home-grown renewable energy technologies such as biofuels or 
wind energy. This bill falls far short of the bold, comprehensive 
energy policy America so urgently needs. Only House Republican leaders 
could call a bill that balloons the federal deficit, undermines states' 
rights, rolls back environmental protections and fails to reduce demand 
for fossil fuels a ``commonsense compromise.'' It's time to hold a 
funeral for common sense.

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