Bush Lifts Executive Ban On Off-Shore Drilling | Voice of America - English
U.S. President George Bush is stepping up pressure on Congress to open up off shore oil exploration.  VOA White House Correspondent Paula Wolfson reports Mr.
President Bush is upping the stakes in his battle with Congress over domestic oil exploration. Inorder for offshore drilling to resume, both Congress and the presidenthave to remove existing prohibitions. One was imposed by thelegislature. The other - an executive order - was signed by thepresident's father - President George H.W. Bush - in 1990. Bothwere put in place at a time when the environmental concerns linked tooff-shore drilling were high. President Bush says with new technologyin place, and the need for domestic sources of energy rising, the banis no longer warranted. At first, he wanted Congress to take thelead. But his calls on the legislature to act got no results. And soMr. Bush decided to go first, and lift the executive ban as a way topressure lawmakers into action. "With this action, the executivebranch's restrictions on this exploration have been cleared away," saidPresident Bush. "This means that the only thing standing between theAmerican people and these vast oil resources is action from the U.S.Congress." Mr. Bush stressed failure to act on the part ofCongress is unacceptable, adding the American people deserve better asenergy prices continue to rise. "Now the ball is squarely inCongress' court," he said. "Democratic leaders can show that they havefinally heard the frustrations of the American people by matching theaction I've taken today, repealing the congressional ban, and passinglegislation to facilitate responsible offshore exploration." Thepresident says in addition to opening up more offshore areas todrilling, Congress must give oil companies access to Alaska's ArcticWildlife National Refuge over staunch opposition from environmentalists. "Thetime for action is now," said Mr. Bush. "This is a difficult period formillions of American families. Every extra dollar they have to spendbecause of high gas prices is one dollar less they can use to put foodon the table or send a child to school. And they are rightly angeredby Congress' failure to enact common-sense solutions." ButDemocratic Party leaders in the legislature say the president's planfor increased domestic exploration will help the oil companies far morethan consumers. Senate Majority Leader Henry Reid says moredrilling leases for these companies will not solve the nation's energywoes. He says they already have drilling access to vast acreage thatis going unexplored. "Democrats are committed to both long termand short term solutions to our energy crisis," said Senator Reid. "Wehave to use our existing resources better and invest more in cleanalternatives to oil." The response to the president's actionsfrom House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was blunt. In a written statement, shesaid the White House drilling plan is a hoax and is designed to helpbig oil companies. Pelosi called on the president once again torelease some of the oil in the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve - astep the Bush administration has repeatedly rejected.