Walz: National Security Must be Paramount in U.S. Energy Policy
Press Release
WALZ: NATIONAL SECURITY MUST BE PARAMOUNT IN U.S. ENERGY POLICY
Today, in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Rep. Tim Walz urged the Department of Defense to clearly define for Congress the areas in which expanded drilling may impact military preparedness and training efforts that are important to our national security.
Walz, a member of the House Bipartisan Energy Working Group, has been pushing for passage of H.R. 6709, the National Conservation, Environment and Energy Independence Act. Walz pushed to include specific guidelines in that bipartisan legislation to address any conflicts between national security interests and expanded drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Walz, a retired Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major said, "As someone who spent decades focused on national security issues, I am deeply concerned that a drill everywhere' plan could undermine our national security by making it more difficult for the Department of Defense to undertake important military training, test flights and other activities that are crucial to our national security."
"I strongly support a partial and responsible repeal of the moratorium, so long as it is part of a comprehensive energy package that acknowledges that national security must be paramount in our energy policy," said Walz. "The bipartisan House energy bill I'm supporting is the comprehensive national energy plan our country has been waiting for since 1973 and I'm eager to see it become law."
Walz's letter to Gates requests information on areas around the "Military Mission Line" in the Gulf of Mexico, which might be affected by a total repeal of the drilling moratorium. In 2005, then-Defense Secretary Rumsfeld wrote, "In those areas east of the Military Mission Line, drilling structures and associated development would be incompatible with military activities, such as missile flights, low-flying drone aircraft, weapons testing, and training."
Walz believes that accurate information about where the ban should not be lifted for national security reasons will help Members of Congress reach consensus on how to best expand American oil production.
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