Hudson Applauds Trump Action on Offshore Energy Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), Co-Chairman of the Atlantic Offshore Energy Caucus, issued the following statement applauding President Donald Trump’s offshore energy announcement:

Rep. Hudson continued,“Norway is a prime example that offshore energy development and energy jobs can go hand-in-hand with a healthy environment. The fishing industry, the oil and gas industry, and the tourism industry have safely and successfully coexisted since 1971, with all industries being huge contributors to Norway’s economy. I applaud this announcement and will continue to work to get North Carolina into the energy business to unlock good-paying energy jobs and strengthen our energy security.”

On April 28, Rep. Hudson joined President Donald Trump at the signing of the America First Offshore Energy Executive Order. President Trump’s EO directed the Interior Department to review the current development plan on the Outer Continental Shelf for offshore oil and gas exploration with the goal to unleash American energy and thousands of jobs while maintaining strong environmental safeguards. This EO came shortly after Rep. Hudson sent a letter to President Trump on April 13 urging him to include all proposed Atlantic lease sales in future leasing plans by the Department of the Interior. To view the letter Rep. Hudson sent the administration, click here.

While there has been broad bipartisan support for oil and gas leasing off the southeastern Atlantic coast, the Obama Administration removed the Atlantic lease sale in March 2016. Rep. Hudson has continued to be on the front lines of advancing energy exploration and development in North Carolina. In 2016, he introduced legislation to require the Obama Administration to make Atlantic lease sales off North Carolina’s coast available for offshore exploration and development.

In addition, he serves as Co-Chairman of the Atlantic Offshore Energy Caucus, a committee that works to advance policies that responsibly explore and expand energy production in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf as part of an all-of-the-above national energy strategy.