Washington, D.C. – Idaho Governor and Interior Secretary Nominee Dirk Kempthorne testified before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee today as part of his confirmation process.

Chairman Domenici’s opening remarks included a reference to a letter of support for Gov. Kempthorne signed by  40 Republican and Democrat governors.

“That is a tremendous vote of confidence and an indication of the caliber of expertise and judgment you would bring to the Department. It is my hope that we can get you quickly confirmed to this position.  The Department needs to have a strong, experienced Secretary in place as soon as possible.  Major decisions that must be made are on hold and many more will be coming down the pike in the next few months.  We can’t afford to leave the Department without permanent leadership, so I’ll do everything I can to get you in place there as soon as possible,” Domenici said.

Later in the hearing, he urged Kempthorne in his role as Interior Secretary to work with Congress to develop the oil and gas in the area of the Outer Continental Shelf known as Lease Sale 181. America has a strong interest in developing these oil and gas resources while protecting the environment and the viewscapes, Domenici said. The country can and must do both, he urged..

Domenici and Ranking Member Jeff Bingaman have introduced legislation to develop approximately million acres of Lease Sale 181 100 miles off the coast of Florida. The region holds an estimated 5 trillion cubic feet of gas and 800 million barrels of oil. The Senate is expected to consider S. 2253 later this year.