Message from Congressman Walter B Jones on HR 3408

Last week  I voted for H.R. 3408, legislation that would expand oil and gas drilling in the United States, approve the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada, reduce dependence on Middle Eastern oil and lower gas prices.  The bill passed by a vote of 237 to 187 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration.  Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has announced its opposition to the provisions in H.R. 3408.

Among other things, H.R. 3408 would:

• open up Alaska’s Arctic Refuge (ANWR) for oil and gas exploration;
• require the federal government to issue a permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada within 30 days;
• require new oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, and off the coasts of Virginia, California and Alaska; and, 
• require up to 37.5% of revenues from federal offshore oil and gas leases to be shared with coastal states within 200 miles of the leased land.

There are many reasons we have high gas prices today including unprecedented money printing by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, delayed action by federal regulators on requirements to set meaningful position limits to curb manipulation of oil and other commodity markets, and of course, the failure of the federal government to proceed with responsible development of the resources we have here at home. I have been, and will continue to be, outspoken about the need to address all of these issues. The bottom line is that this Administration cannot continue to stand by and do nothing while Americans are getting hurt at the pump. This is about jobs. It’s about getting our economy moving again. By approving the Keystone XL pipeline, opening ANWR and several offshore areas, and allowing revenue sharing with the states, the House bill is a step in the right direction and this Administration and Senate Democrats ought to support it.

Thanks,
Walter