Speaker Dennis Hastert Praises Passage of ANWR 

WASHINGTON - Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today made the following comments regarding the passage of House legislation to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and eventually help lower energy costs in America:

“Yet again, House Republicans have voted in favor of opening ANWR and relieving energy costs for the American people. Allowing this land to be opened will allow American ingenuity and American technology to produce energy safely, protect the environment, and strengthen our national security.

“I’m disappointed House Democrats voted AGAINST this important legislation, and voted AGAINST lowering gas prices for the American people. Today, Democrats again missed a chance to support the opening of ANWR. If Democrats spent as much time voting for solutions to our energy problems as they do giving lip service to the American people, we’d already enjoy lower gas prices.”

“I have to ask: why would you choose to obstruct lowering energy costs for the American family?”

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Liberal Democrats’ Record of Obstruction on ANWR

– Over the last five years, liberal House Democrats have voted a combined total of 1,423 times to block development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

– Liberals have consistently blocked efforts to increase domestic energy production by tapping the resources available from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

– ANWR holds the single largest deposit of oil in the United States. Opening ANWR could increase U.S. reserves by nearly 50 percent.

109th Congress

– December 19, 2005: FY 2006 Department of Defense Appropriations Act Conference Report - 89 Democrats voted against the Conference Report which included language allowing oil drilling in the ANWR (Roll Call 669)

– April 21, 2005: Energy Policy Act of 2005 - 160 Democrats voted to oppose a comprehensive national energy policy, including oil and gas exploration in the ANWR (Roll Call 132)

– April 20, 2005: Amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to strike provisions allowing oil and gas exploration in the ANWR - 170 Democrats voted to exploration, development, and production in the ANWR (Roll Call 122)

108th Congress

– April 11, 2003: Energy Policy Act of 2003 - 157 Democrats voted to oppose a comprehensive national energy policy, including language opening the ANWR to development (Roll Call 145)

– April 10, 2003: Amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2003 to strike provisions allowing exploration, development, and production in the ANWR - 167 Democrats voted to strike provisions allowing exploration, development, and production in the ANWR (Roll Call 135)

– April 10, 2003: Amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2003 to limit certain features of development in the ANWR - 171 Democrats voted against limited development in the ANWR (Roll Call 134)

107th Congress

– August 2, 2001: Energy Policy Act of 2002 - 172 Democrats voted to oppose a comprehensive national energy policy, including provisions opening the ANWR to development (Roll Call 320)

– August 1, 2001: Amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2002 to strike provisions allowing exploration, development, and production in the ANWR - 171 Democrats voted to strike provisions allowing exploration, development, and production in the ANWR (Roll Call 317)

– August 1, 2001: Amendment to the Energy Policy Act of 2002 to limit certain features of development in the ANWR - 166 Democrats voted against limited development in the ANWR (Roll Call 316)