For Immediate Release:
Friday, June 30, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Dan Boren voted Thursday night in support of the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act, legislation with the potential to dramatically increase our domestic natural gas production and lower costs for consumers.  As a member of the House Resources Committee – which has jurisdiction over drilling rights on the outer continental shelf – Boren has worked closely with colleagues from both parties to reach this compromise on our nation’s off-shore drilling regulations.

 

“If we are serious about decreasing our dependence on foreign energy, we have to increase our domestic production,” Boren said.  “It is just irresponsible to continue relying on the most unstable region of the world to meet our energy needs.”

 

Though most of the debate on this legislation focused on states with a coastline, Boren noted the bill’s importance to non-coastal states like Oklahoma.

 

“This bill will bring relief to the farmers who have seen their costs for fuel and crop inputs rise significantly over the past several years,” Boren said.  “Farmers and ranchers know all too well that natural gas is vital to the nitrogen fertilizers used on virtually every crop produced in this country.

 

“Producing more natural gas also provides us a real opportunity to reduce utility costs for Oklahoma families,” Boren said.

 

H.R. 4761 revises the federal ban on off-shore drilling, giving coastal states more control over drilling off their own coastlines.  Those states that wish to ban off-shore drilling can still do so, but this legislation allows those that wish to produce natural gas the opportunity.  It awaits action in the Senate.

####