Wittman Statement on Interior Department Five-Year Plan

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement after the Interior Department announced a draft proposal for offshore oil and gas leasing which includes a potential lease sale off the coast of Virginia:

"Virginians across the political spectrum have voiced support for offshore energy exploration and development, and I have consistently voted to push the Administration to open up a significant amount of the Outer Continental Shelf for this purpose. This proposal includes a potential lease sale off Virginia's coast, representing a productive but small step forward for our Commonwealth, where OCS exploration and development can provide good jobs and an economic boost to our region.

"While this is good news for Virginia, it is disappointing it took this long. Virginia's Lease Sale 220 was already included in a Draft Proposed Plan in 2006, only to be canceled in 2010. Now, Virginia will not see a lease sale until roughly 2021, which is 15 years after its original inclusion in a five-year plan. Delays like this represent a failure to harness our domestic energy potential.

"At the same time, we must open up more of the OCS if we truly want to maintain our economic competitiveness and achieve North American energy independence. Limiting the potential productivity of our domestic energy supply is no way to achieve these goals. Regardless, I am eager to work with the Department of the Interior to ensure that the process of opening Virginia's OCS to energy exploration and development is conducted efficiently, effectively, and in an environmentally safe manner."

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.

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