The letter was submitted as part of the committee hearing “The Deepwater Drilling Moratorium: A Review of the Obama Administration’s Economic Impact Analysis on U.S. Small Business.” 

“The recent oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico was a tragedy that impacted all Americans,” the letter stated. “While ABC deeply sympathizes with those whose lives have been impacted by this disaster, we do not believe that this isolated incident should be used as a catalyst to halt deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.”

The letter pointed out that many ABC members’ livelihoods heavily depend on the Gulf cast region’s energy industry.

“The extreme actions ordered by the Obama Administration will no doubt impede the progress of vital construction projects revolving around this important industry and ultimately, contribute to additional and unnecessary job loss,” ABC stated.

While agreeing that alternative energy sources are important for America’s future, ABC noted that they will only be beneficial when coupled with lessening U.S. dependence on foreign sources of energy.  ABC said that the best way to achieve that goal is through increased domestic exploration and production of fossil fuels, including the use of responsible deepwater drilling, where most domestic oil is procured.

“For those reasons, ABC opposes any action that would halt deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. This action directly harms a vital sector of our industry, ensures that access to affordable energy will be severely diminished, and will only make fulfilling our country’s long-term energy needs more difficult as time goes on,” ABC stated.