Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings spoke on the House floor in strong support of H.R. 2231, the American Energy and Jobs Act, a bill that will expand access to affordable energy and create over a million American jobs. The House is scheduled to vote on H.R. 2231 this Friday.

Full Statement:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the rule and the underlying legislation.

In our country today, millions of Americans continue to search for work, the national average price of gas is above $3.50, and rising costs of everything from electricity to food to health care makes it tough for families and small businesses to make ends meet. But instead of providing relief for struggling Americans, President Obama yesterday announced a plan that will inflict further pain and cause further damage to our struggling economy. The President’s latest attempt to unilaterally impose a national energy tax will cost American jobs and increase energy prices.

In stark contrast, Republicans are advancing solutions to expand access to affordable energy in order to create jobs and lower energy costs. The bills the House is considering this week are necessary only because of the Obama Administration’s persistent and destructive attacks on American energy production. The President’s latest efforts to impose new energy taxes and government red-tape follow four-and-a-half years of erecting American energy roadblocks.

H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, will unlock our offshore energy resources that are being held captive by the Obama Administration. The differences are clear between the President’s current no-new-drilling and no-new-jobs plan and the Republican pro-energy, pro-jobs offshore drilling plan.The President’s five-year offshore leasing plan keeps 85 percent of offshore areas under lock and key – effectively reinstating the moratoria that were lifted right before he took office.T he Republican drill-smart plan would open new areas containing the most oil and natural gas resources – allowing for new energy production in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts.

The President’s plan refuses to let Virginia develop its offshore resources until after 2017 and cancels a lease sale that would have allowed them to do so in 2011.

The Republican plan supports the bipartisan wishes of the Virginia governor, Congressional delegation and public by requiring an offshore lease sale to be held.

The President’s plan suppresses American job creation and economic growth.

The Republican plan would create 1.2 million jobs long-term and generate $1.5 billion in new revenue.

This Republican approach is exactly what our country and our economy needs right now. We can do better than President Obama’s plans to stifle American energy production and raise energy costs."