Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s announcement to permit offshore drilling for oil and gas:
The Obama Administration’s announcement today has set the stage for the largest expansion of the offshore drilling program since its inception in 1953. This is a welcome change in federal policy that will create thousands of jobs and put America on a path to a more secure energy future. This is the absolute right step for the country. Today’s announcement signals that this administration is serious about a jobs and energy security policy. Expanded onshore and offshore drilling for oil and natural gas creates high quality jobs here in America, while making our country more secure and less dependent on oil from unstable and often hostile governments.
I have walked Louisiana’s coast with Ken Salazar, and when he was serving in the Senate, he helped me to pass the Gulf Coast revenue sharing bill. He knows how important the energy industry is to Louisiana, and he knows how proud we are of our strong history as industry leaders. Almost a fifth of our country’s total oil supply, both domestic and foreign, flows through Port Fourchon. Sec. Salazar’s announcement today will help to spur increased activity and create jobs for hard working Louisianians, from out in the Gulf to down in the Bayou.
As we continue to open up new areas to offshore energy exploration, the federal government must recognize what we here in Louisiana have understood for a long time: the role that coastal communities, from Calcasieu Parish to Plaquemines Parish, play in hosting offshore energy development is invaluable. If the U.S. wants to decrease its dependence on less clean, less secure, foreign energy sources, a key will be the federal government establishing a system that guarantees states receive a fair share of the revenues that are generated from their commitment and dedication.
It is also imperative that a portion of the revenues be dedicated to creating parks and green spaces across the country, as they were under the Domenici-Landrieu Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. Thanks to that landmark legislation, Louisiana will reap the benefits of a smarter, more equitable revenue sharing system. Other states that host energy production that is equally critical to U.S. energy security should enjoy similar rewards. I will continue to work with Secretary Salazar and my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that we compensate states for the role they play in our national energy solution.
