Posted on 08/08/2008 1:32:39 PM PDT by conservativegramma
I received the following e-mail from my Congress critter today that may be interesting to a lot of you so I thought I’d post.
This is from Congressman Steve Buyer (R – 4th District Indiana). He is a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce:
ISSUE POSITION STATEMENT: THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (OCS)
“The OCS is located off-shore of America’s coasts (East and West coast and in the Gulf of Mexico). Although portions of the OCS are currently available for energy production leases, over 80% of the OCS remains off-limits to U.S. production. According to the U.S. Mineral Management Service (MMS), the roughly 574 million acres of the OCS which are off-limits to oil production hold almost 18 billion barrels of oil and over 76 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Due to a Congressional ban on drilling in the OCS, the United States is the only developed nation in the world with so much of its domestic energy reserves blocked from production. Even other environmentally conscious countries, such as Japan, allow drilling in their coastal waters. Back in 1990, when this executive ban was first established, oil sold for $18 a barrel and a gallon of gas sold for $1.20. Obviously times have changed. Only July 14, 2008, President Bush lifted the Executive ban on drilling in the OCS. Congress is now the only thing standing in the way of the American people benefiting from the energy resources within the OCS.
I am a staunch supporter of responsibly accessing our energy resources in the OCS in an environmentally safe manner and have been actively working to bring a bill that would open the OCS to the floor for a vote. The American people are suffering higher gasoline prices, home heating costs, food prices, and higher prices for goods and services. Every year, the U.S. sends $300 billion overseas for foreign energy. That is the rough equivalent of 3.6 million U.S. jobs. Creating energy here at home will do more than bring an increased supply online, it will also create U.S. jobs and boost the economy.
On July 18, 2008, I joined Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting that she allow legislation on the floor which would open the OCS. The American people deserve a vote on the issue. Following this letter, on July 21, 2008, I led by fellow House Republicans of Indiana’s delegation in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging a vote on the OCS. We must act to bring down the prices of energy.
To that end, I recently traveled across Indiana to report on a bill I have introduced, the ”Main Street USA Energy Security Act,” H.R. 6001. This measure will serve as a blueprint for a broad based, balanced national energy policy for America.. While Congress has passed several bills over the years that became law to address our nation’s energy needs, we have not had a broad energy plan since the 1970’s. My bill, the Main Street USA Energy Security Act provides guidance to set America on a course to become less reliant on foreign energy and gives incentives for exploration and energy access here at home.
In short, the Main Street USA Energy Security Act recognizes our nation’s need to move towards energy independence and security by increasing access to our domestic reserves by:
(1) Responsibly accessing the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR),
(2) Opening up more areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS);
(3) Increasing our efforts to bring clean, emission free, nuclear power onto the electricity grid;
(4) Utilizing the United States’ coal to produce electricity, diesel automotive and jet fuel; and
(5) Increasing the number of domestic refineries.
I am also a co-sponsor of a number of measures crafted to bring more American-made energy to the American people. These bills include:
- Unlocking the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) (H.R. 6107)
- Accessing the Outer Continental Shelf (H.R. 6108)
- Encouraging New Refineries (H.R. 6139)
- Developing Oil Shale Resources (H.R. 6138)
- Extending Renewable Tax Credits (H.R. 6133)
- Providing Alternative Fuels for Defense and Aviation (H.R. 6131)
- Repealing Ban on Use of Oil Sands, Shale Oil and Coal-to-Liquids (H.R. 5656)
- Maximizing Benefits of Coal-to-Liquid (H.R. 2208)
- Targeting Boutique Fuels (H.R. 2493)
- Beginning Nuclear Fuel Recycling (H.R. 6132)
- Providing Nuclear Science Education and Workforce Opportunities (H.R. 6135)
- Protecting Consumers from Energy Speculators (H.R. 6130)
These bills, along with H.R. 6001, are currently being considered by various House Committees, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee, on which I serve.
I see this as a national security issue above anything else, but it is also about remaining a competitive nation. Across Indiana we have the best workers and businesses supplying products and medicines for the world. However, it is a good bet competitors to Hoosier businesses across the globe are benefiting from government subsidized energy prices – lower energy prices – thereby giving them an advantage over U.S. companies.
The American innovative spirit has brought countless new cleaner technologies to decrease oil spills from drilling. According to the U.S. MMS, worldwide offshore oil and gas development is responsible for only 4 percent of the petroleum in the world’s marine environment. Drilling in the OCS can be done in a safe and environmentally safe way, and Congress must allow the American people to have a say in the matter.”
I contacted the 5 RINO’s of the Gang of and told each person I talked to there that they need to get their sorry as***es back to Washington, hold a press conference, tell the people of the U.S. they were wrong about their attempted rape of Americans through their proposed bill and that they are now strongly in support of Steve Buyer’s Main Street USA ESA. And also to tell Mary that her fat is now back in the fire! They are so very, very, very, very and incredibly stupid! I also sent an email to McCain said he should not permit Graham to speak at the convention if he does not sponsor total withdrawal of their proposal. I am so steamed I want to slap them all! Between the 5 of them they have no a lick of sense. Their proposal just handed control of everything over to the Democrats.
Amen! Get the word out folks and tell your critters to support H.R. 6001.
I think Graham and his band of turncoats sunk McCain and the GOP’s chances in November with their Senate energy fiasco. Graham is the biggest threat against the survival of the GOP.
Actually, we send 700 billion a year over seas to foreign oil producers.
According to Pickens’ commercials.
wow, 700 billion is even worse. Buyer’s plan though seems to make more sense than Pickens’.
Keep supporting our congress heros!!
We need a vote
Nazi Pelosi AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
We need emergency session
President Bush comments@whitehouse.gov
202-456-1111
John Boehner invited McCain to join them
McCain needs to get his a$$ to Washington where he belongs
It will bring the much needed media attention
http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/
Pickens is looking to make a buck, but he’s also said “we need to do everything, through the kitch sink at it and see what works.”
He’s just betting there is a future for wind, and maybe so.
However, wind isn’t the complete answer, as it’s unreliable, and the conventional power generations methods can’t ever come fully off line.
There isn’t anything wrong with point of use power generation in my book, and it should be encouraged. Think if every home had a windmill, and solar pannels and battery technology got even better?
Geo-thermal power heat and electric generation at the point of us, along with wind and solar? With minimal backup small “tactical” nuclear generation?
Hello, does that make too much sense or what? Like someone said “If the navy can put a nuke reactor on a sub, how the hell is it NOT safe enough for the gernal public?”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.