Thompson Cosponsored Energy Legislation Passes House

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson today voted to support H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act. H.R. 1230, cosponsored by Thompson, requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct oil and natural gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Virginia that have been delayed or cancelled by the Obama Administration. The measure passed the House today with a bipartisan majority of votes, 266-149. Thompson issued the following statement after final passage:

“With developing countries rapidly increasing demand and global liquid oil consumption set to increase by some 10-12 million barrels per day in the next decade, energy prices will continue to rise in the months and years ahead. That is, unless we start producing more of our own supplies here at home. After today’s vote, it is clear that bipartisan support is growing for Washington to take action and America to start producing more domestic energy. This legislation will create jobs, begin to address America’s pain at the pump and start our nation on a path to energy security.”

Passage of H.R. 1230 comes a week after Thompson issued a call for bipartisan action in Congress to boost domestic production.

H.R. 1230 was introduced on March 29, 2011, and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources. On April 23, 2011, the full Committee held a mark-up and ordered the bill to be reported by a vote of 29-14. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would raise $25 million in federal revenue for the period of 2011 to 2016 and $40 million during the period of 2011 to 2021.

Next week, the House will vote on H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act, and H.R. 1231 the Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act, both also cosponsored by Thompson.

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