WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, the House of Representatives passed critical bipartisan legislation to replace President Obama’s restrictive offshore drilling plan with a more extensive plan to utilize further domestic energy resources. This legislation was introduced after President Obama released his No-New-Drilling, No-New-Jobs plan, which would close off 85 percent of America’s offshore energy resources and deeply diminish energy production and job growth.

H.R. 6082, the Congressional Replacement of President Obama’s Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan, implements a new lease schedule for 29 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, Southern Pacific, and the Arctic in areas known to contain the most oil and natural gas resources. In addition to providing a path to increased American energy independence, this legislation also helps create tens of thousands of quality jobs for hardworking Americans. Western Caucus member and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings released this statement following passage of the bill:

“The House of Representatives has soundly rejected President Obama’s woefully insufficient energy policies. Today’s vote was a clear choice between President Obama’s failed energy policies that outsource American jobs and further our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and a bipartisan energy plan to create American jobs, grow our economy and strengthen America’s energy security. America cannot afford President Obama’s halfhearted policies and empty rhetoric that take us backwards when it comes to our energy future. The bipartisan plan that passed today is what a real vision for America’s energy future should look like—more American jobs, more American energy and less dependence on unfriendly foreign countries. It’s now time for the Senate to take action and vote on the President’s plan.”

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