American Energy Freedom Day
American Energy Freedom Day , crafted by U.S. Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas and John Shadegg of Arizona. They are circulating a letter that should be signed by every member of Congress that supports increased American energy production.
The letter states that Oct. 1st should be called American Energy Freedom Day. It is the same day when the existing bans on outer continental shelf drilling and oil shale leasing expire. Every year, Congress specifically votes to extend the bans. More importantly, the letter strongly urges the Congressional leaders to not extend the ban and warns that if extensions are approved by Congress, that the President needs to veto.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer are such partisans that they would most likely play tricks, stall or flat out refuse to consider the vote for energy freedom day and at worst, sign additional extensions for drilling bans. Reps. Hensarling and Shadegg want to keep the pressure on Democratic leaders to open U.S. resources for drilling and one way is too make them responsible for their actions. There is a possibility that the government may shut down over this issue.[1]
Dear Madame Speaker and Mr. Leader,It is our hope that all Democrats and all Republicans can stand together to celebrate American Energy Freedom Day on October 1, 2008. On that day, the current prohibitions on oil and gas leasing on most of the Outer Continental Shelf and on oil shale leasing on federal lands will expire, unless Congress acts to extend them. We strongly encourage you to allow the expiration of these prohibitions on American energy exploration and production, as scheduled under current law, and will actively oppose any attempt to extend them.
When these prohibitions expire on October 1, 2008, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008 (Public Law 110-161), all Americans will benefit, for vast amounts of American petroleum and natural gas will immediately become available for leasing activities. Estimates from the Minerals Management Service and the Bureau of Land Management indicate that there are upwards of 18 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil on the currently off-limit areas of the Outer Continental Shelf, as well as more than 55 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Estimates of American oil shale vary widely but range from the hundreds of billions of barrels to trillions of barrels of oil.
Those hardest hit by the high prices at the pump are Americans who don’t have the wiggle-room in their budgets for this tremendous increase to their cost of living. For example, Americans in rural areas and out West often must drive great distances to get to work; public transportation isn’t an option. Most Americans cannot afford the newest hybrid vehicles, and many people depend on less efficient trucks, vans, and SUVs for their livelihoods.
Taking advantage of American resources will increase the worldwide supply of petroleum and bring down prices at the pump. The very access to these resources will send powerful price-reduction signals to the futures markets, providing immediate relief.
We therefore urge you not to schedule any legislation that would extend the prohibitions on leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf and in the American interior for oil shale. Should any legislation extending these prohibitions be sent to President Bush’s desk, we would vigorously encourage the President to veto.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to celebrating with you a victory for the American people on American Energy Freedom Day.
Yours Respectfully,
Rep. Jeb Hensarling Rep. John Shadegg
