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For Immediate Release
December 16, 2009

WASHINGTON - Barry Russell, president and CEO of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), issued the following statement upon the release of a new Rasmussen poll today, which finds "that 68% of U.S. voters believe offshore oil drilling should be allowed":

"The Administration has a unique opportunity to redirect our nation's long-term energy security by moving forward with a bold 5-year offshore energy plan. That's the message the American people - who own these resources - continue to send to Washington, and today's poll underscores the consistent and tremendous amount of public support for responsibly expanding access to domestic oil and gas reserves along our outer continental shelf (OCS).

"Oil and gas production in America, done overwhelmingly by independent producers and small businesses, continues to create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. From 2002 to 2008, nearly 200,000 jobs were created in the upstream industry alone. By opening our outer continental shelf for commonsense, 21^st century exploration, we can help grow and fuel our economy and put thousands of Americans back to work. Increasing homegrown energy production also helps stabilize prices at the pump and drives down imports from unstable regions of the world.

"The American people understand that access to domestic oil and gas is critical to our nation's economic and national security. However, despite the fact that American oil and gas companies lead the way in developing new technologies and employ the safest, most efficient production methods in the world, the Administration continues to restrict access to our resources at home and promotes more domestic production in countries around the world, including China and Brazil. IPAA will continue to fight on behalf of our members, and the clear majority of Americans, urging the Administration to open the OCS."

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