Press Releases

02.12.12

Markey: Interior, Energy Dept. Budgets Reflect America’s Priorities to Increase Jobs, Protect Environment

WASHINGTON (February 13, 2012) - The Obama administration's proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 and beyond includes key provisions that will protect our parks and forests and increase the amount of clean energy produced here in the United States, creating jobs, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, and protecting our environment. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee today praised P… Continue Reading

02.07.12

New Markey-Holt Report Reveals “Drilling Dysfunction” on Federal Lands

WASHINGTON (February 8, 2012) - For safety and environmental infractions that occurred over a thirteen year period starting in the late 1990s, the Interior Department collected less than $300,000 in fines from oil and gas companies that violated regulations for hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, as well as other oil and gas drilling on federal lands, according to a report released today by the House Natural Resources Committee's Democratic staff. The committee staff report shows that the Int… Continue Reading

02.06.12

Markey: It’s Time for a Hearing on Alaska Native Corporations

WASHINGTON (February 7, 2012) - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is calling on the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), to immediately schedule a hearing around a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that recommends reforms in federal contracting with Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs). Rep. Markey, who requested the report with other members of Congress, has been examining federal contracting with ANCs after the recent exposure of an alleged… Continue Reading

02.01.12

Markey: While Obama Admin. Winds Up Wind Energy Off Atlantic Coast, Congressional Republicans Slashing Clean Energy Funding

WASHINGTON (February 2, 2012) - Proving their continued dedication to wind energy, the Obama administration's Interior Department today announced that the path is now clear to begin leasing areas for offshore wind farms in the Mid-Atlantic region. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said this administrative action must be combined with congressional moves to continue important tax credits for renewable energy that will prevent layoffs of thousands of American workers. "Offshore wind energy has th… Continue Reading

02.01.12

Markey: While Obama Admin. Winds Up Wind Energy Off Atlantic Coast, Congressional Republicans Slashing Clean Energy Funding

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01.31.12

Natural Resources Republicans Enact "Drill Here, Sell There, Pay More" Policies

"Revenue Portion" of Transportation Bill Comes Up Short on Funding, Long on Oil Company Giveaways WASHINGTON (February 1, 2012) - Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee today passed several bills that won't provide sufficient funds for a transportation bill needed to rebuild America's infrastructure, but will give away America's coasts and the pristine Arctic Refuge to oil companies already swimming in profits and access to resources. Natural Resources Republ… Continue Reading

01.30.12

Markey: Exxon's $41 Billion Reasons to End Tax Breaks, Pay for Infrastructure Jobs

Ending Old Oil Subsidies, Not Allowing New Oil Drilling, Should Pay for Transportation Shortfall WASHINGTON (January 31, 2012) - 2011 was a very good year for Exxon Mobil, as the oil giant posted a $41 billion profit for the period. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), today cited these new profit numbers as yet another example of the misplaced priorities of House Republicans, and called for the repeal of oil company tax breaks instead of allowing new drilling off America's coasts and in the Arctic Na… Continue Reading

01.29.12

Markey: House Republicans Leaving No Keystone Unturned in Fruitless Search for Transportation Funding

Wednesday Markup of Drilling Bills, Threatened Inclusion of Foreign Oil Pipeline Won't Rebuild America's Infrastructure, Says Congressman WASHINGTON (January 30, 2012) - America's aging infrastructure is in need of rebuilding. The current funding shortfall to just keep our bridges, roads, airports and other existing transportation elements running is $12 billion for the next two years, and more than $75 billion over the next six years. Faced with this pressing national problem, Hou… Continue Reading

01.27.12

Markey: Latest Email Confirms BP Actively Hid Spill Rate Information, BP Should Drop Challenge to Size of Gulf Oil Spill

Washington (January 28, 2012) - With release of previously secret internal emails that indicate BP recognized that the amount of oil that could spill into the Gulf of Mexico as a result of the Deepwater Horizon explosion could have been up to 81,000 barrels a day - an amount much higher than what even the federal government believes spilled into Gulf waters - Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on the company to stop challenging the size of the spill in an effort to avoid paying what could be billio… Continue Reading

01.26.12

Markey: Under Proposed Endangered Species Act Changes, Bald Eagle Would Have Gone Extinct In Most Of The Nation

Lawmaker Sends Letter to Fish and Wildlife Service Criticizing Proposed Changes to ESA WASHINGTON D.C. (January 27, 2012) -Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, is challenging proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Markey's letter sent late yesterday to Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe argues that the proposed new policy sets too high a threshold for species listing. "The… Continue Reading

01.25.12

Markey: Republicans, Conservative Think Tanks Use Flawed Data To Draw Flawed Conclusions About American Oil Production

EIA Data Vastly Underrepresents How Much Oil and Gas Produced on Federal Lands Washington (January 26, 2012) - In this week's State of the Union address, President Obama highlighted that American oil production is at an eight year high and is projected the grow another 22 percent this decade. But data presented by the Energy Information Agency (EIA) has led others to incorrectly claim otherwise. House Republicans and conservative think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and the Institute… Continue Reading

01.18.12

Markey Responds To New Report That Finds Exporting American Natural Gas Could Send Prices Skyrocketing

Lawmaker Calls on Energy Department to Hold All Pending Applications for Export of Fuel; Announces Intent to Introduce Legislation Keeping Natural Gas Here in America WASHINGTON (January 19, 2012) - This morning, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a sobering report analyzing the potential impact of natural gas exports on domestic natural gas prices. The report found that if the total potential exports of American natural gas from eight proposed terminal… Continue Reading

01.17.12

Markey: Obama Administration Everglades Protection Spurns GOP Attacks on Wetlands, Wildlife Refuges

GOP Looks to End Wildlife Refuge Designations to Push Oil Drilling Agenda WASHINGTON (January 18, 2012) - Working with local ranchers and other private landowners, the Obama administration today announced it has received the first parcel of land to establish the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in South Florida. When this new conservation area is complete, 150,000 acres north of Lake Okeechobee will be protected. This effort stands in stark contrast to the e… Continue Reading

01.17.12

Markey: Keystone XL Was Never Key to U.S. Energy Policy

America Just the Middleman between Dirtiest Canadian Oil and Thirstiest Foreign Markets WASHINGTON (January 18, 2012) - The Obama administration is expected to announce today that they have rejected the proposed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline had come under increasing fire due to the high pollution content of the Canadian tar sands fuel, the route of the pipeline across sensitive lands, the increase in gas prices in the Midwest United States that the pipeline would produ… Continue Reading

01.11.12

Markey: Obama Admin. National Ocean Plan Addresses Depth of Challenges for Commerce, Conservation

Massachusetts Serves as Example of Successful Ocean Planning, Says Congressman WASHINGTON (January 12, 2012) - Today the Obama administration released their draft of a national plan to manage commerce and conservation in America's oceans and Great Lakes. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over ocean issues, released the following statement in support of the Obama administration's efforts to establish a National Ocean Pol… Continue Reading

01.10.12

Markey to Interior: Are Taxpayers Getting Fair Value in Offshore Oil Lease Sales?

Lack of Competition among Companies in Offshore Auctions May Mean Less Money for Taxpayers WASHINGTON (January 11, 2012) - Following BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster, the oil and gas industry and their Washington allies attacked the Obama administration for its efforts to ensure the safety of offshore drilling. Offshore resources were being locked up, the industry said. Leases weren't being sold quickly enough in the oil- and gas-rich waters of the Gulf. So last month, when the Department of In… Continue Reading

01.08.12

Markey: Obama Admin. Says "Yes We Canyon" by Protecting Grand Canyon from Uranium Mining

01.05.12

Markey: Gulf Spill Companies' Appeal of Violations is Appalling

01.03.12

Markey to Chu: Why Is America Exporting Our Natural Gas?

DOE Considering Export Plans That Would Send American Natural Gas Abroad, Potentially Raising Energy Prices for American Families WASHINGTON (January 4, 2012) - Worried that American consumers and businesses will face higher prices if energy companies are allowed to sell U.S. natural gas to foreign markets, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) today questioned Energy Secretary Steven Chu about his department's review of natural gas export applications. The Department of Energy is now reviewing applica… Continue Reading

12.20.11

Markey: New EPA Mercury Standards "For the Kids"

WASHINGTON (December 21, 2011) - New standards to limit mercury and other toxics from power plants and other sources were finalized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a move that will protect America's children and pregnant mothers from health hazards, and encourage the development of cleaner energy technologies. Reducing mercury and other toxics is feasible, as evidenced by the 91 percent reduction in mercury in Massachusetts since 1996. Yet House Republicans are trying to bloc… Continue Reading

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