Texas Energy Chief Heads to D.C. Challenges Obama Plans on Offshore Drilling
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas In her continuing fight to improve Americas energy security & create energy jobs in Texas Elizabeth Ames Jones Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission will testify before Congress Wednesday.
Jones also a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate will appear before the House Committee on Natural Resources at 9:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday March 16. In her appearance Jones will call on President Obama to lift the permitorium to spur job creation along the Gulf Coast and to increase federal revenue from offshore drilling projects.
According to a leading economist the moratorium would cost Gulf Coast states over 8100 jobs $2.1 billion in economic output and $487 million in wages during the initial months after the moratorium Jones said.
In a similar time period Texas share of that loss is almost 2500 jobs $622 million in gross domestic product and $153 million in wages. IHS Global Insight analysis states that the Gulf of Mexico offshore activities could generate as much as $300 billion in governmental revenues alone in the next 10 years. These are revenues that could be utilized to invest in our

future as we invest them in Texas said Jones.
By offering regulatory certainty partnered with environmental protections and a culture that truly understands what it means to appreciate and utilize our regions mineral assets we provide an economic engine that creates value and prosperity said Jones.
The Committee hearing including Jones testimony can be viewed live online at
http://naturalresources.house.gov/Live/.
- WHO: Elizabeth Ames Jones Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission
- WHAT: Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources
- WHERE: 1324 Longworth House Office Building Washington DC
- WHEN: Wednesday March 16 2011; 9:00 a.m. CDT (10:00 a.m. EDT)