“This is the biggest step forward for our country’s energy independence in the last 25 years.  After months of refusing to allow an up-or-down vote on opening up new drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, Nancy Pelosi and the House Leadership were unable to continue to ignore the vast majority of the American people who want us to break our dependence on foreign oil.

 “I am committed to keeping the OCS open and producing energy for our country.  I will fight any and all attempts to bring back the ban on drilling off our coasts.

 “While this is a great victory for American energy independence, we must not think this alone will solve our energy crisis.  As I have said before, there is no silver bullet. We must continue to pursue all options to bring down the cost of energy.  We must look to the future and invest in alternatives like bio-fuel and wind power.  We must also invest in nuclear power and clean coal.  Finally, we must continue to go after our own American resources that are locked away in ANWR and build more refineries.”

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