The American Conservative Union Launches
The ACU ENERGY FREEDOM PLEDGE
ACU Will Separate Lawmakers Who Favor Or Oppose Increased Domestic Energy Production

(Alexandria, VA) - The American Conservative Union, the nation's largest and most active national conservative grassroots organization, is launching a nationwide effort called the ACU Energy Freedom Pledge designed to put candidates for office across the country on record in favor of increased domestic energy production and against any new ban on offshore drilling for oil and natural gas and oil shale exploration and extraction in the continental United States.

ACU Chairman David A. Keene noted that just few hours after the 25-year-long national drilling moratoria expired on October 1, liberals in Congress and left-wing environmental groups announced they would try to reinstate the ban.

Their admission hinted that allowing the ban to expire was just another campaign tactic and that they would only wait to take action after the election.

"Thanks to the American people's overwhelming call for drilling and less dependence of foreign energy, members of Congress and some candidates who for years had opposed every attempt to lift the bans have become born-again supporters of offshore drilling," Keene said. "The American Conservative Union will give them a chance to put their words into action before the voters make a choice. We are calling on them, and all candidates, to add their signature to a pledge that they will support increased energy production."


Keene said the pledge, which commits the candidate to oppose any attempt to reinstate the drilling bans, is being sent to candidates of both major parties, incumbents and challengers alike, throughout the country. ACU will post the response of each candidate on its website.

"Our goal is to gain the signatures of a majority of members of the incoming 111th Congress, regardless of which party wins the election," Keene said. "Then we will be able to hold their feet to the fire should this issue be brought to a vote."

(Copy of pledge attached)

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION
ENERGY FREEDOM PLEDGE

I, ________________, PLEDGE TO THE CITIZENS OF ______________ AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT I WILL:

OPPOSE ANY AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO IMPOSE ANOTHER NATIONAL BAN ON THE DRILLING FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS ENERGY RESOURCES OFF OUR NATION'S SHORES OR ON OIL SHALE EXTRACTION IN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES; AND I WILL,

SUPPORT EFFORTS TO INCREASE DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE ENERGY NEEDS AND MAKE THE UNITED STATES LESS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN SOURCES OF ENERGY.

_____________________________ Signed

____________________________ Dated

# # #