[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        OIL AND GAS LEASE SALES

  (Mr. FLEMING asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, the Interior Department is going forward 
with the oil and gas production lease sale in the central Gulf of 
Mexico. I welcome the Interior Secretary to my home State of Louisiana 
this March.
  While visiting our great State, I would like to remind Secretary 
Salazar that although it is a positive gesture to move forward with 
this lease sale, the benefit of these leases will greatly be diminished 
under tax hikes--that is removal of exploratory incentives that are 
included in this administration's budget proposal.
  This $30 billion tax increase could devastate an industry that 
directly and indirectly employs over 300,000 Louisianans. This tax 
increase will wreak havoc on small independent producers and third-
party services. It will also continue to perpetuate the cycle of high 
fuel prices and our addiction to foreign sources of energy who want to 
see our democracy fail.
  In short, this proposed budget does nothing to solve our energy 
needs. If anything, it will lead to more cost and massive job loss for 
many Americans, especially in Louisiana, who are suffering in this 
economic recession.

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