[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1079]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           OFFSHORE DRILLING

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Washington asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, last week Americans were 
encouraged when President Obama mentioned offshore drilling in his 
State of the Union address; yet, it took only 5 short days for the 
President to reveal his true intentions on offshore drilling. The 
President's budget plan shows revenues for new offshore leases 
dramatically declining in the next 5 years. If more areas are opened to 
exploration, revenues would increase, not decrease. Less revenue means 
less exploration. This shows this administration has no intention of 
opening up new areas to offshore drilling.
  In 2008, the decades-long ban on offshore drilling was ended because 
the public demanded it. As a result, we now have over 500 million new 
acres available for energy production. But this administration is 
purposely choosing not to act. The President's words don't match his 
actions. This administration's policies are preventing the creation of 
millions of new American jobs. Mr. Speaker, it's time for America to 
move forward with an all-of-the-above energy plan that includes new 
offshore drilling.

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