Oil prices hit $105 a barrel last week, the highest in more than two years. Meanwhile, rigs sit idle in the Gulf of Mexico, and Louisiana workers continue to wait while permits slowly trickle out.

Instead of getting American energy producers back into the Gulf or developing common-sense approaches to our nation's energy problems, the Obama administration suggested tapping our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower the price of oil. Our oil reserves are intended only for severe crises, not when oil prices increase.

This is further proof the nation lacks an energy policy, and the only thing worse than no energy policy is a bad one. Between its refusal to allow American energy production to resume, its advocacy for taxing existing energy producers and the short-sighted suggestion of using the reserves, the administration is driving a harmful, politically motivated policy rather than working with Congress to develop a coherent, strategic approach.

I've been leading the fight in Washington to end this moratorium for almost a year and use our natural resources. This week, I scolded the administration for suggesting the use of our strategic oil reserves and their ill-advised energy policy. Also, I introduced a resolution to speed up the permitting process and a bill to extend Gulf energy producers' leases.

One deepwater permit was issued since the moratorium was lifted — not enough. If we are to lessen our dependence on foreign oil and plan for the future, we must start with the resources in Louisiana.