Sen DeMint supports legislation for oil and gas exploration.
Press Release Summary:
On "America's Business with Mike Hambrick" radio program, Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) says pressure from American public helped prompt Congress to end quarter-century ban on offshore drilling. DeMint says legislation is needed to ensure that once ban is lifted, offshore oil and natural gas exploration proceeds. Environmental lawyers can hold up leases and permits for years using courts, and that needs to change.
Original Press Release:
Sen. DeMint Says Ending Offshore Drilling Ban Important First Step Toward Boosting Energy Supply
In Interview, Senator Says Legislation Now Needed to Expedite Oil, Gas Exploration
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 26, 2008 - On this week's "America's Business with Mike Hambrick" radio program, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) says pressure from the American public helped prompt Congress end a quarter-century ban on offshore drilling. Sen. DeMint says legislation is needed to ensure that once the ban is lifted, offshore oil and natural gas exploration proceeds.
WHO: Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Member of the Senate Commerce, Energy & Natural Resources, and Joint Economic Committees
DeMint says the U.S. House of Representatives wouldn't have voted to lift the offshore oil drilling ban if the American public had not urged Congress to do so.
"Because the American people got so engaged with that we were able to back them down. And that's just a good example of what we can do to change Congress and get them to vote in favor of the American people if we can just get Americans engaged."
DeMint is working on legislation that would expedite offshore oil and gas exploration once the oil drilling ban is lifted:
"It's real important we realize ending the moratorium doesn't solve the problem. It just opens the door. And we need to pass a piece of legislation that tells the Interior Department to expedite the vetting of these leases and to set up the structure that gives states a percent of the royalties so it will encourage states to get active behind this and to stop frivolous lawsuits. The environmental lawyers can hold up leases and permits for years using the courts. And we need to change that."
WHAT: "America's Business with Mike Hambrick" is an hour-long radio program airing nationally in more than 60 markets."America's Business" explores the issues and people who make America the world's manufacturing leader. Hosted by broadcast veteran Mike Hambrick, the show features news, commentary and interviews with leading news makers and manufacturers, "the millions of people who make things." To listen to the program, go to www.americasbusiness.org.
