WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after reports that Congressional Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to permanently withdraw unleased areas in the Outer Continental Shelf from future energy development.
“The American people spoke loud and clear at the ballot box, but Democrats are trying to do everything they can to tie down the incoming Trump administration,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Offshore energy development is good for jobs, good for Louisiana, good for our national security, and reduces inflation, but they want to take offshore acres of the Gulf completely off the table. We need to unleash American energy development, not continue the Biden-Harris war on energy and the American worker.”
Background
Last Congress, Cassidy released a landmark energy policy outline in response to the Biden administration’s assault on domestic energy. The outline details how we can successfully reset U.S. energy policy, including Cassidy’s plan for an Energy Operation Warp Speed to cut permitting red tape and unleash domestic energy and manufacturing.
He also pushed back on disastrous proposals from the Biden administration to limit development in the Outer Continental Shelf by introducing the WHALE Act, the Offshore Energy Security Act of 2023, and the Supporting Made in America Energy Act to mandate oil and gas lease sales.
Under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and the Louisiana State Constitution, revenues from offshore leasing are dedicated to coastal restoration. 2024 is already the first year without an offshore oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico since 1965.
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