Rep. Harris Supports Bills to Reduce Gas Prices, Create Jobs

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Ryan Nawrocki

(202) 441-7940

For Immediate Release:

May 11, 2011

Harris Supports Bills to Reduce Gas Prices, Create Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the price of gas soaring to nearly $4 per gallon, Rep. Andy Harris voted in favor of H.R. 1229 – Putting the Gulf Back to Work Act. The bill, which is part of the House majority’s American Energy Initiative, will lower gas prices and create American jobs. According to Louisiana State University professor and economist Dr. Joseph Mason, these bills could create 1.2 million long-term jobs.

“High gas prices are threatening our economic recovery, particularly on the Eastern Shore,” said Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. “While the liberals in Congress just want to raise taxes and slow down American energy production, I am voting to increase American energy production, help create American jobs and reduce the price of gas – all while protecting our Chesapeake Bay.”

According to President Obama Administration’s own estimates, the sixmonth “official moratorium” (May–October 2010) on drilling cost up to 12,000 jobs. However, the study by Dr. Mason predicts that if the de facto ban on deepwater drilling continues for 18 months, there could be a direct loss of 36,137 jobs nationwide. For more information, Dr. Mason’s report can be found here.

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