Domenici Urges House to Take OCS Bill Up Under Regular Order for Simple Majority Passage
December 5, 2006
02:55 PM
WASHINGTON – Senate Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Pete V. Domenici today urged House leadership to take up S. 3711, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, this week for passage by a simple majority of House members. The bill, which will open two areas of the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas development, passed the Senate by a strong, bipartisan majority in August and is expected to have similar success in the House.
Chairman Domenici’s statement:
“This bill is the most meaningful step we can take in the near term to stabilize energy prices by bringing more oil and gas to market. Everyone recognizes this. The public supports this legislation. American businesses and manufacturers, small and large, are clamoring for its passage. The President wants this bill and national newspapers across the political spectrum are running editorials urging Congress to get it done.
“I think if offered the opportunity, a strong, bipartisan majority of the House will vote for this bill. I thank the House leadership for its interest in this legislation and encourage the leaders to take up this bill and pass it.”
S. 3711 will open 8.3 million acres in Lease Sale 181 and Lease Sale 181 South for oil and gas exploration. The government estimates that the region contains 1.26 billion barrels of oil and 5.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – enough to heat six million homes for 15 years.
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