As America’s dependence on foreign oil is highlighted by increased gasoline prices due to political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East, a newly released study confirms what Natural Resources Republicans have been telling President Obama for two years: Increased American energy production creates jobs, increases American energy security and helps reduce our national debt.

Specifically, the study found the following production potential in Alaska’s Arctic outer continental shelf (OCS):

• 10 billion barrels of oil
• 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas
• 55,000 new jobs
• $145 billion in new payroll nationally
• $193 billion in government revenue through the year 2057