[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6690]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     DRILLING EQUALS AMERICAN JOBS

  (Mr. PALAZZO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALAZZO. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of H.R. 
1230.
  As the Congressman from Mississippi's gulf coast, I have seen 
firsthand the damaging effect of the administration's decision to delay 
lease sales for offshore oil exploration. I also have worked offshore 
myself as a rigger, a roustabout, and a materials manager. I understand 
the positive economic impact offshore jobs have on the local and 
regional economies. By the administration's own admission, we have 
already seen 12,000 jobs lost with a direct salary impact of $500 
million. To prevent these jobs from permanently being sent to other 
countries, we need firm timelines for considering permits to provide 
certainty to investors and employers.
  I not only support the passage of the Restarting American Offshore 
Leasing Now Act, but I urge the administration to undo their record of 
blocking and delaying energy production and to proceed with scheduled 
lease sales promptly. We must not continue to unnecessarily sideline a 
vibrant industry that is critical to our economic and national 
security.

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