Thompson Advances Legislation to Lower Gas Prices, Strengthen Economy

Washington, D.C. - The House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday held a Full Committee markup on three energy bills cosponsored by Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson.

Wednesday's markup comes as energy experts predict gasoline prices could reach $5 per gallon by Memorial Day weekend and continue to warn that “$4-a-gallon gas fueling fears for recovery,” as reported in Wednesday's Washington Post.

Thompson released the following statement after completion of Wednesday's markup.

“The steady climb in gas prices under the Obama Administration has taken a toll on Pennsylvania’s 5th District and left families and small businesses more vulnerable to oil price spikes. Since last year, the Administration has only granted a handful of permits for homegrown American energy production in our own federal waters. That’s why today, the House Natural Resources Committee took action and passed three offshore energy bills that will lower gas prices and bolster economic growth by expanding domestic production. With the White House’s failure to put forth a comprehensive energy policy and gas prices closing in on record levels, Congress needs to pass this critical legislation.”

Background information on the legislation that passed the House Natural Resources Committee is as follows:

The Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act (H.R. 1229) would end the Obama Administration’s de facto moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico in a safe, responsible, transparent manner by setting firm time-lines for considering permits to drill, which provide certainty and allow employers and workers to get back on the job. The Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 1229 by a bipartisan vote of 27 to 16.

The Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R. 1230) would require the Obama Administration to move forward promptly to conduct offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Virginia that the Obama Administration has delayed or canceled. Due to the Obama Administration’s actions, in 2011 there will be no offshore lease sales – the first time since 1958. The Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 1230 by a bipartisan vote of 29 to 14.

The Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R. 1231) would lift the President’s ban on new offshore drilling by requiring the Administration to move forward in the 2012-2017 lease plan with energy production in areas containing the most oil and natural gas resources. The Natural Resources Committee passed H.R. 1231 by a bipartisan vote of 29 to 14.