U.S. CONGRESSMAN JOHN SHADEGG REPRESENTING THE 3RD DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

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Washington, Sep 12, 2008 - Congressman John Shadegg (R-AZ) made the following statements yesterday after introducing a bill that would authorize the President to waive federal requirements being abused by fringe environmentalists seeking to prevent energy production.  The waiver would allow the President to expedite energy projects that are necessary to our national security.

“Environmental protections are necessary.  Yet, legal challenges to oil and gas leases, aimed at blocking production, can drag on for years.  As Congress has done in the past, we must impose reasonable limits on such environmental challenges.  During the oil embargo of the 1970s, which put our national and economic security at risk, Congress allowed the waiver of environmental regulations, thus enabling 800 miles of pipeline to be built in Alaska within three years.   In 2006, on a bipartisan basis, Congress again enacted a similar waiver to ensure that environmentalists did not block efforts to secure our border.

This waiver will not cast aside our nation’s environmental laws, but instead prevent their abuse by radicals seeking to halt all American energy production.

 Americans want American-made energy to power our economy, create jobs, and carry us into the future.  Energy or drilling legislation that fails to contain limits on environmental litigation will also fail to provide American consumers any real relief.”