HR1433 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1433 LRB095 21763 RLJ 51977 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In 1981, Congress first imposed a moratorium on new oil drilling in more than 80% of the Outer Continental Shelf; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 18 to 21 billion barrels of recoverable oil are located in the areas of the Outer Continental Shelf that are protected under the 1981 moratorium; and

WHEREAS, Since the initial ban was imposed, drilling technologies have become more sophisticated, providing for more advanced imaging to locate oil deposits and safer directional drilling practices for the more precise extraction of oil; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 60% of the oil consumed by the United States is imported; offshore drilling is an alternative to oil importation that could reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil; and

WHEREAS, National motor fuel prices have reached record high levels with gasoline prices exceeding $4.00 a gallon and diesel prices at nearly $4.80 a gallon; average gasoline prices in Illinois have also set new record high levels of more than $4.15 a gallon; and

WHEREAS, Polls show that Americans are in strong support of offshore drilling in coastal waters; and

WHEREAS, Supporters of offshore drilling point to record high fuel prices and the nation's reliance on foreign sources of oil as valid reasons for lifting the ban on coastal oil exploration; and

WHEREAS, Congress has discussed measures to open the Outer Continental Shelf to additional drilling, and two measures, the Deep Ocean Energy Resources Act (H.R. 6108) and the National Environment and Development Act (H.R. 2784), would lift the current moratorium and allow coastal states to decide whether to allow oil leases off their shores; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support new offshore oil drilling as a means to increase the energy independence of the United States, and we urge the Congress of the United States of America to lift the moratorium on new drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent to the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.