Last night I voted no on H.R. 2 – the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act. This bill was an amalgamation of 13 separate bills related to energy production and independence, nine of which I had already voted to support in the short time I have been back in Congress. Of the other four bills that made up H.R. 2, three had been voice voted in the House and only on the one that dealt with oil drilling, and federal control of waters within eye sight of the South Carolina coast, had I voted no. I voted no on this bill last night because I am asking for nothing more than a simple amendment that would just give South Carolina and other coastal states the same rights that Texas has with regard to off shore drilling. I believe in energy independence, and want us to move forward on that front…but in doing so is it not reasonable to suggest that states might have a level of voice on waters within eyesight of their coast? This is particularly the case when Texas has this right, and in no way has it hampered off-shore drilling efforts. If one believes in the principle of federalism and local control, who will have a better feel for the impact of a drilling rig placed a few thousand yards off Hilton Head, an unelected bureaucrat in Washington or people in South Carolina? I have tried to address this issue in previous offshore drilling bills by introducing an amendment that would give states voice on drilling off their coasts, but last night’s bill did not allow for this language and accordingly, I could not support it. You can read more on the amendment and my full thoughts on this bill below: sanford.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/sanford-votes-no-on-hr-2
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 16:37:57 +0000
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