Charles Boustany
(Photo courtesy of Congressman Charles Boustany's Office)
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Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana) joined Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) today in introducing three crucial pieces of legislation designed to end the Obama Administration’s moratoria on drilling and allow Americans along the Gulf Coast to return to work.

 
As a part of the House Republicans’ American Energy Initiative, a legislative package was unveiled today at a press conference with Reps. Boustany and Hastings and members of the Natural Resources Committee:
 
·         Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act - ends the Obama Administration’s de facto moratorium on Gulf drilling and has an immediate impact on both jobs and energy production. 
·         Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act - expands American energy production and creates jobs by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to conduct three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and one in offshore Virginia. 
·         Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act - removes President Obama’s ban on new drilling along the entire Atlantic Coast, the entire Pacific Coast and much of Alaska.
“The Obama Administration has ignored the Gulf Coast delegation for nearly a year now,” Boustany said.  “These bills will force it to finally act to end the job-killing moratorium and get our men and women back to work.  The uncertainty caused by this Administration has crippled the Louisiana economy, and I am pleased Chairman Hastings is leading this effort to introduce this important legislation.  The only thing worse than no energy policy is a bad energy policy, and the President’s actions have led us down that path.  I hope to see a swift passage of these bills so we can create a working energy plan for this nation and for future generations.  There is no longer an excuse this Administration can use for not increasing energy production in this country.”
 
Congressman Boustany has been leading the fight against the moratorium and subsequent de facto moratorium since its initial implementation in April 2010. Despite the Administration’s stall tactics, Boustany’s leadership has helped restart the permitting process in the Gulf, though more needs to be done.

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