Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) released the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced that it will hold an oil and gas lease sale for the Gulf of Mexico on November 17, in compliance with federal law.

"It is unfortunate that we are celebrating someone following the law, but that is what is happening today. It took Congress, courts and a big dose of reality to force the Department of the Interior to realize that producing energy in America was better than their strategy of just asking foreign nations to produce more oil and gas. Make no mistake – BOEM was shamed and embarrassed after Hurricane Ida and that helped contribute to their sobering up. Cutting offshore energy production directly reduces hurricane protection and coastal restoration funds. Their decisions to cut and defund hurricane protection, flood control and coastal restoration projects was on national display. We're glad to see this decision and will see they follow through on the execution," Graves said.

This year alone, Graves has offered several amendments to stop efforts that targets Louisiana's oil and gas sector and defunds coastal restoration and hurricane protection.

When the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act of 2021, legislation that disguises knee-capping offshore energy production in the name of reforming federal ocean management, was introduced this year, Graves introduced an amendment that would remove language that prohibits offshore oil and gas leasing. It was voted down on a party-line vote.

On September 9, 2021, the House Natural Resources Committee held a meeting to push legislation that would eliminate funds for Louisiana's hurricane protection, coastal restoration and flood control. It was included in House Natural Resources Committee legislative package of at least $3,500,000,000,000 ($3.5 trillion) currently being considered by the U.S. House that would expand social welfare programs.

Below are a few amendments that Graves offered to improve the bill and advance Louisiana that were denied.

Amendment #2 – would have redirected funding from a blank check climate program to address the backlog of resilience projects

Amendment #13 – would have required a report on whether higher energy costs and gas prices would occur as a result of this legislation

Amendment #14 – would have required the U.S. Secretary of Energy analyze whether the legislation would result in a loss in American jobs, specifically jobs in the Gulf of Mexico, before taking effect.

Amendment #28 – would have ensured there will not be a decrease in funding for coastal resilience and restoration projects.

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