GOP Leader: "Lifting these outdated bans is a long-overdue but crucial step toward American energy independence.  But it is just that: a step."

Contact: Michael Steel, Kevin Smith, Steve Forde, 202-225-4000

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 /Standard Newswire/ -- House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement this evening after the Associated Press reported House Democrats would give in to the demands of House Republicans and the American people by lifting the bans on offshore and oil shale energy production in their continuing resolution appropriations legislation:

"House Republicans have fought for months to lift these outdated bans on American energy production, and the capitulation by Democrats today is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices.  Over the last several months, Republicans have worked together toward an 'all of the above' energy plan that increases production of American energy in an environmentally-responsible way to help reduce gas prices.  Day in and day out, the Democrats who run Congress blocked our efforts - until today, when they realized they could not defy the will of the American people any longer. 

"Lifting these outdated bans is a long-overdue but crucial step toward American energy independence.  But it is just that: a step.  Congress still has a great deal of work left to do before the 'all of the above' energy plan proposed by House Republicans becomes a reality.  Two months ago, we introduced the American Energy Act to increase environmentally-safe drilling that gives states a stake in energy production occurring off their shores and on their lands, encourage more conservation and efficiency, and promote the use of renewable and alternative fuels. 

"While today's victory on offshore and oil shale energy production adds momentum to our efforts, we will not retreat in our fight to enact the comprehensive energy plan that the American people support and deserve.  If Democrats continue to block a vote on this plan, just as they blocked a real debate and vote on the outdated drilling bans for months on end, Republicans and the American people will hold them accountable."

NOTE:  Increased American energy production is a cornerstone of House Republicans' American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), an "all of the above" plan to lower gas prices by encouraging more conservation and efficiency, promoting the use of more alterative and renewable fuels, and expanding drilling on remote lands and far off American shores in an environmentally-safe way.  Notably, the bill creates a renewable energy trust fund that would be financed through revenues from drilling from several energy-rich locations in Alaska and far off our shores and includes critical revenue-sharing provisions that gives states an incentive to allow job-creating energy production off their shores and on their lands.