[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE NEED FOR OFFSHORE DRILLING

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                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, with today's high price of 
gasoline, I would like to insert into the Record an article from the 
Baytown Sun which highlights the need for additional domestic resources 
through offshore drilling.

           [From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jun. 20, 2008]

                           Offshore Drilling

       Led by President Bush and Sen. John McCain, a growing 
     number of politicians say they are willing to drop strict 
     environmental protections to allow more offshore drilling for 
     oil. Our response: ``what took y'all so long?''
       It's pretty clear to most of us on the Sun editorial board 
     that when it comes to energy, what we really need is to 
     produce more, use less, and find new sources of power.
       This nation cannot afford to put off serious energy reform 
     any longer. Let's start with more domestic drilling by 
     lifting the 27-year-old federal ban on offshore drilling. The 
     moratorium applies to all federal waters, which extend three 
     miles from the coastlines.
       However, offshore drilling is no panacea. It certainly 
     doesn't provide a short-term answer to the high gasoline 
     prices that have angered Americans. It would take up to five 
     years to start pumping significant amounts of oil from new 
     wells.
       But it's a step in the right direction. Working Americans 
     rightly believe their government has a duty to finally assure 
     the energy security of this country.
       All across this state and nation, people are hurting. Small 
     farmers, truckers, and taxi drivers are unable to cover 
     costs. Small business owners are struggling to meet payroll. 
     The cost of living is rising, and the value of paychecks is 
     falling. All of this is in large part because the price of 
     oil is too high, and the supply of oil is too uncertain.
       The American people have had enough of high gas prices and 
     our government's unwillingness to take care of us.
       According to the U.S. Department of the Interior and 
     Congressman Ted Poe, there are approximately 420 trillion 
     cubic feet of natural gas and more than 86 billion barrels of 
     oil yet to be discovered along the Outer Continental Shelf in 
     the lower 48 States. That is enough oil or natural gas to:
       Maintain current oil production for 87 years and current 
     natural gas production for 68 years;
       Produce gasoline for 116 million cars and heating oil for 
     47 million homes for 15 years;
       Replace current imports from the Persian Gulf for 59 years;
       Produce sufficient natural gas to heat 75 million homes for 
     60 years;
       And supply current industrial and commercial needs for 29 
     years or supply electricity generating needs for 55 years.
       We are the only country in the world that does not fully 
     cultivate their oil and natural gas resources. There is 
     absolutely no good reason why we cannot expand current 
     offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico to the coasts of 
     Florida, California and the eastern seaboard.

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