Washington, Jul 10, 2008 -

Today, Congressman John Sullivan joined several of his House colleagues in sending the following letter to President Bush, calling for a repeal of the executive ban on offshore drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.

July 10, 2008

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

Speaker Pelosi and liberal Democrats continue to block efforts to provide real solutions to our nation’s energy crisis.  We applaud your efforts to fight for increased American-made energy production in an environmentally responsible way.  U.S. consumers hear that call and national polls show nearly 67 percent of Americans support offshore drilling.

Yet - despite $4 a gallon gasoline and broad support for increased exploration; House Democrats choose to take our nation in a different direction.  Their strategy is simple: “Drive small cars and wait for the wind” (The Hill, July 8, 2008).  The American public deserves more and House Republicans have put forth a responsible energy plan that includes exploration of next generation oil, natural gas, and coal and the production of advanced alternative fuels like cellulosic ethanol from sugar and clean coal-to-liquids – all while protecting our natural resources for future generations.

Recent actions demonstrate Speaker Pelosi has no intention of allowing a House vote on lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling.  Democrats continue to defy the American public’s call for real action to bring down the price at the pump.

We believe the time is right for you to take the first step.  Forty-three House Republicans have co-sponsored Representative Tim Murphy’s resolution (H.Res. 1282) to repeal the Executive moratorium on offshore drilling.  Accordingly, we urge you to pro-actively revoke the Executive memorandum banning energy production on the United States Outer Continental Shelf and ask that you continue to work with Congress to increase American-made energy production.

# # #