December 5, 2007
Contact: Robin Winchell (202) 225-4031

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon commented on the decision by the U.S. House Republican leadership today to cancel a planned vote on S. 3711, the Domenici-Landrieu Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which will expand offshore oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and provide a significant share of the royalties to Louisiana for coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects.  S. 3711 was scheduled to be on the House's suspension calendar today, which requires bills receive a two-thirds majority for passage. 

"While I am disappointed we did not get the opportunity today to pass this historic piece of legislation, I am optimistic and believe that a vote on S. 3711 will be rescheduled and we will pass this bill before we adjourn," said Melancon.  "I and the rest of the Louisiana delegation will continue working around the clock to educate our fellow members of Congress on why offshore revenue sharing is so vital to Louisiana's future.  We have been patiently producing energy for the rest of the nation for 50 years, and we are tired of waiting for the funding we need to restore our disappearing coastal wetlands and protect ours communities from future hurricanes.  I urge the House leadership to schedule a final vote on S. 3711 before the end of the week, so we can pass this legislation and finally move forward with rebuilding and protecting coastal Louisiana."

S. 3711 opens 8.3 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico to new oil and gas production, and shares 37.5 percent of the federal revenues generated with Gulf Coast energy-producing states, including Louisiana, for coastal hurricane protection, wetlands restoration and flood control projects.

The House has also shown its support for offshore revenue-sharing, passing in June H.R. 4761, the Deep Ocean Energy Resources (DOER) Act, a bipartisan bill expanding offshore oil and gas drilling and providing Louisiana and other coastal states with a significant share of royalties from drilling off their coasts.  Melancon and other leading members of the House Resources Committee had negotiated the comprehensive DOER Act from the more than two dozen outer-continental shelf-related bills introduced this Congress.

Melancon was instrumental in building support among Democratic members of Congress for the DOER Act, providing the bill's margin of victory by convincing 39 fellow House Democrats to vote with him in favor of the legislation.  Both the Senate and House bills provide significant new funding for Louisiana's hurricane protection and coastal restoration system.    

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