House GOP Continues Handouts to Big Oil

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Republicans pushed through yet another bill aimed at gutting environmental protections and stifling public input on the oil industry’s efforts to drill for oil and gas on public lands.

The White House has already threatened to veto this legislation.

In response to its passage, SEEC Members issued the following statement:

“This bill stifles green-collar job growth and hurts our energy security by making us more dependent on oil. Since President Obama took office, onshore oil production on federal and Indian lands has increased more than 35 percent and is at its highest level of production in ten years. But instead of ensuring that this boom is managed in a responsible way that balances public health, community protections, and domestic energy independence, House Republicans continued their reckless handouts to Big Oil.

“The oil and gas industry is currently sitting on more than 7,000 lease permits that are not being explored. Before opening up new federal lands we must first cut down on this backlog and encourage industry to use the leases they have.

“Sadly, once again House Republicans have prioritized drilling above all other land use, including conservation, hunting, fishing, and camping. The bill will force approval of drilling applications without public input and handover control of the onshore leasing system to the oil and gas industry.

"It comes on the heels of reports that the U.S. will surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world’s top oil producer by 2015, demonstrating the need to diversify the way the nation cultivates its energy supply and institute a true ‘all of the above’ policy.

“Instead of proving that they know how to recycle, albeit bad bill ideas, the GOP should work with us to grow sustainable domestic jobs through a clean energy economy.”