Two Bills in Congress Show Fork in the Road on American Energy Independence

 

"Exploring for domestic energy in outer continental shelf areas is critical to moving America to greater energy independence, and H.R. 2227 would move us in that direction," said Western Business Roundtable CEO Jim Sims. According to the U.S. Minerals Management Service, America's OCS areas hold approximately 450 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas resources and 85 billion barrels of oil.
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One bill would increase energy independence; the other would force greater dependence on foreign imports, Western business leaders said.

Two competing bills in the House Natural Resources Committee starkly illustrate a choice facing Congress: promote greater American energy independence by supporting responsible development of the nation's natural resources, or push the U.S. toward increased reliance on foreign energy imports by advancing legislation that seeks to limit domestic access and production.

The two bills at issue are the bipartisan American Conservation and Clean Energy Independence Act (H.R. 2227), introduced by U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), and the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act (H.R.3534), known as the CLEAR Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV).

Western Business Roundtable told Congress that the Murphy bill would move us toward greater energy independence, while the Rahall bill is nothing short of a direct frontal attack against American energy production.

Source: Western Business Roundtable