Washington D.C. – Today, the President announced his decision to remove the Atlantic Ocean lease from the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022. Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10) issued the following statement after the President’s announcement:
“With the removal of the Atlantic Ocean lease from the OCS plan, the President is content to deny millions of Americans in the southeast of jobs, higher wages, and a stronger, more robust economy. The President’s short-sighted reversal in policy was driven to placate liberal environmental groups – not on the grounds of sound energy policy – and endangers our nation’s ability to obtain energy independence.
According to estimates released by the Administration, the Atlantic Ocean would have unleashed upwards of 3.3 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 31.28 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. It is a sad state of affairs when the President prevents domestic production of American–made energy to placate environmental extremists. It is my sincere hope that the Administration reassesses its decision with economic and energy security in mind rather than worrying first and foremost about how this President will be remembered by liberal special interests.”
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