Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, issued the following statement praising the end of the Congressional Moratorium on oil exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf.  In July, the Bush Administration ended the executive ban on off-shore drilling leaving only the Congressional Moratorium between Americans and more domestic energy to lower gas prices.  This moratorium required annual Congressional extensions – and such an extension was not included in the recently-passed Continuing Resolution.

“Montanans have been demanding action to bring down the cost of energy, but in this case it was inaction that was needed.  The failure to extend the unpopular Congressional Moratorium on off-shore drilling means that Americans finally have access to our own energy off the coasts.  This allows us to reduce dependence on foreign oil, increase energy supplies and reduce the price at the pump.  This is what my colleagues and I were demanding in August when we asked House Leaders to come back from vacation to vote on the American Energy Act – and our efforts made a difference.”