Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM), ranking minority member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, after Senate passage on Sept. 27 of a continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating through March 6, 2009. The bill also allows Outer Continental Shelf leasing moratoriums to expire on Sept. 30, 2008.
"For years, the appropriations process has been used to lock up America's resources by placing a moratorium on offshore drilling. Last year, Democrats chose to add oil shale to the list of resources that were off-limits.
"Several months ago, I introduced legislation to end these damaging policies once and for all. Since that time, Republicans have fought hard to remove those moratoriums and allow our nation to take advantage of its own resources in order to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. As we began to tell the American people about how Democrats sought to prevent them from using the oil, gas, and shale that they owned, they became more and more outraged.
"After months of maneuvers and dodging on this issue, the Democrats' leadership has finally realized that the people have had enough. The continuing resolution we just passed will be the first appropriations bill in 26 years that does not prevent us from offshore drilling. Earlier this week, the Senate also defeated an attempt to place a moratorium on issuing regulations for oil shale development.
"These are great victories for the American people and those of us who seek to end our reliance on foreign oil. But they will be short-lived victories if the next Congress and next president seek to once again block these resources. Although I will not be in the Senate next year for those fights, like many other citizens, I will be watching carefully."
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