Interior Secretary Ken Salazar testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on U.S. oil and gas production. Last week the Obama administration announced new proposals for offshore oil and gas drilling.
In a statement on President Obama's plan, the Chair of the Committee, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) wrote, "The President’s plan is to simply say ‘no’ to new energy production and ‘no’ to new American jobs created by new offshore drilling. It’s a plan that is sending American jobs overseas, forfeiting new revenue, and denying access to American energy that would lessen our dependence on hostile Middle Eastern oil."
The Obama administration's five-year oil and natural gas proposal allows companies to obtain leases to drill in the Gulf Coast and in Alaska, while drilling off the East and West coasts is prohibited.
“This proposal recognizes the need to proceed carefully and in a manner that protects human safety, coastal areas, and the environment,” Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Tommy P. Beaudreau said.