GUSCIORA/McKEON/STENDER CALL ON CONGRESS
TO CONTINUE TO OPPOSE OFFSHORE DRILLING

Resolution Blasts Bush's Call On Congress To Exploit Domestic Natural Resources

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Reed Gusciora, John F. McKeon and Linda Stender today called on Congress to remain steadfast in its opposition to offshore drilling despite President George W. Bush's continued pleas to lift a moratorium that would directly impact New Jersey's coastline.

Gusciora, McKeon and Stender said New Jersey needs to keep up the pressure to ensure there will be no offshore drilling along the entire Atlantic shelf -- which includes the New Jersey Coastline -- and Pacific Coast, or the Artic National Wildlife Refuge.

"This president's addiction to petroleum has led us into a crisis that has allowed gas prices to skyrocket," said Gusciora (D-Mercer).  "Giving Big Oil free reign will not guarantee any drop in the price of gasoline or oil.  We need a sustainable long-term energy policy that emphasizes green lifestyles, buildings, jobs and technologies."

The resolution (AR-147) would call on U.S. Congress to oppose any attempt to lift the ban on offshore drilling for oil and natural gas.  It also urges the President and Congress to support energy independence through renewable resources.

"The President's careless request would jeopardize New Jersey's coastal resources without guaranteeing a single additional barrel of oil," said McKeon (D-Essex).  "Bush's cronies already have access to coastal areas where drilling is allowed and have failed to make use of them.  We cannot allow greed to disrupt fragile ecosystems that have been successfully protected from drilling for over two decades."

In 1981, Congress imposed a ban on drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton also enacted executive orders during their tenures to provide these fragile ecosystems additional protections from drilling. 

"Exposing our natural resources to exploitation would not yield any results or provide any immediate relief to this gas crisis," said Stender (D-Union).  "Even if President Bush got his wish, drilling wouldn't start for almost ten years and it would be another 30 years before there would be any real effect on gas prices.  Reducing our reliance on fossil fuels is dependent upon our ability to encourage conservation, fuel efficiency and renewable energy not the equivalent of holding a diving rod over the ocean."

-- 30 --