Statement by Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX 10) following the President's address on the Gulf oil spill:

“Our first priority must be to clean up the environmental damage caused by this spill and to make whole again those whose livelihoods and property have been harmed. America's beaches and wetlands must be restored to protect our sensitive environment and those who live and work on the Gulf Coast. I support a full investigation to prevent future disasters and so that we may hold those who are responsible fully accountable. Right now, unfortunately, the federal bureaucracy has delayed assistance from reaching those on the ground and has even prevented aid from the Netherlands and other allies who have the necessary equipment and expertise from being utilized to help clean up this spill. We must cut through the bureaucracy and use every tool at our disposal.

“However, I believe this can and should be done while exploration continues. The Gulf of Mexico supplies 30% of our nation's oil and gas. Six months from now these rigs will have permanently relocated to waters off Brazil, Venezuela, Africa and the Middle East if they are not allowed to operate here.

“I am sponsoring a bill that Rep. Pete Olson is introducing this week to repeal the moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. As horrible as this spill is, shutting down 33 rigs will only compound this tragic environmental devastation with an economic disaster for Texas and other Gulf states. It is estimated that tens of thousands of jobs and $2 billion in wages will be lost if the moratorium continues. On Saturday, I joined Reps Olson, Kevin Brady and Joe Barton at a press conference in Dallas. We hosted several oilfield support businesses who told us they have already begun to layoff workers and that millions of dollars worth of their equipment was already shipped back to shore.

“I agree with the President that our focus should be on cleanup and accountability. However, this horrendous spill aside, Cap and Trade legislation that the President continues to pursue remains bad policy for the United States. A national energy tax will not get the spill cleaned up any faster. It will only serve to drive up the cost of oil and gas and the expenses of any business or individual that uses those fuels. One day America will operate largely on alternative energy, but we aren’t there yet.

“I continue to support the accelerated development of alternative fuels, including wind, solar, nuclear and clean coal as part of an ‘all of the above’ strategy that will be necessary to achieve America's long-term energy independence. However, the fact is America will remain reliant on oil and gas for decades and expanding domestic exploration and production on and offshore in an environmentally responsible manner is absolutely necessary. This short-sighted moratorium only increases our dangerous dependence on foreign oil, threatening our economy and our national security.”