Cassidy Introduces Gulf Coast Jobs Preservation Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Louisiana Congressman Bill Cassidy introduced H.R. 5519, legislation to overturn President Obama’s deepwater drilling moratorium, which threatens tens of thousands of Louisiana jobs and has been rejected as unnecessary by the President’s own panel of engineering experts.

“The moratorium is a political decision made by President Obama and Secretary Salazar.  Petroleum engineering experts chosen by the President strongly disagreed with the moratorium and recommended it end.  After losing fisheries and coastal tourism to the spill, Louisiana’s economy cannot afford to lose energy jobs to politics.”

Co-sponsored by the entire Louisiana delegation in the House of Representatives, the legislation overturns the May 30 Minerals Management Service Notice to Lessees No. 2010–N04, which established a moratorium on deepwater energy production, by stating that the Notice “shall have no force or effect.”

According to the Louisiana Midcontinent Oil & Gas Association, the deepwater moratorium:

• Shuts down 33 rigs, which employ 180-280 workers apiece, with each worker supporting an additional four jobs in the energy economy
• Jeopardizes up to $330 million a month in household income
• Reduces domestic energy production by 80,000 barrels per day
• Risks $7.6 billion in future government revenues

In addition to the other six Members of the Louisiana House delegation (Reps. Joseph Cao, Charlie Melancon, Charles Boustany, Rodney Alexander, Steve Scalise, and John Fleming), Cassidy’s bill was co-sponsored by the following Members, representing 12 states and from both sides of the aisle:

• Rep. Parker Griffith (AL)
• Rep. Brett Guthrie (KY)
• Rep. Mike Rogers (AL)
• Rep. Jeb Hensarling (TX)
• Rep. Tom Price (GA)
• Rep. Pete Olson (TX)
• Rep. Glen “GT” Thompson (PA)
• Rep. Gregg Harper (MS)
• Rep. Ted Poe (TX)
• Rep. Michael Conaway (TX)
• Rep. Frank Lucas (OK)
• Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX)
• Rep. Michael McCaul (TX)
• Rep. Ralph M. Hall (TX)
• Rep. Dan Burton (IN)
• Rep. Tom Cole (OK)
• Rep. John Sullivan (OK)
• Rep. John Shadegg (AZ)
• Rep. Dan Boren (OK)
• Rep. Don Young (AK)
• Rep. Mike Pence (IN)
• Rep. Kenny Marchant (TX)
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT)
• Rep. John Culberson (TX)
• Rep. Trent Franks (AZ)
• Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (WV)

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