ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Speaking forcefully for more energy production within the United States, ACU citizen activists from the East Coast told the U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and officials from the federal Minerals Management Service that it was time to act now on drilling for more oil and gas.

The ACU members testified at the public hearing held today to receive comment on a five-year plan to develop energy on the Outer Continental Shelf.   They were joined by other American Conservative Union members in the audience there to express the need to fully develop our energy resources available offshore.

Ellie Towhey, a Paralegal from Plymouth Meeting, PA; testified that a continued dependence on foreign oil was a direct threat to America's national security, "What happens when OPEC decides to reduce oil supplies or China's demand for gas directly affects our basic supplies here in the United States?  Nothing should supercede our national security."

Greg Rigby, a Small Business Owner from Auburn, NY; told the hearing, "We need a balanced approach on our energy needs with a focus on gas and oil.  We need to base our country's energy policy on science, not on emotion."

Ken Domonkos, a Sales Representative from Manchester, NJ; argued for more oil and gas drilling off our coast by saying, "We continue to spend untold billions of dollars annually on importing oil and gas which adversely affects our trade balance.  We need to stop outsourcing jobs by buying oil and gas from overseas and instead create those jobs right here, at home, in America."

ACU Chairman David Keene said, "These citizens' comments echo those of the tens of thousands of Americans who participated in a series of Town Hall Meetings the ACU conducted last summer.  It is imperative that the Department of the Interior move quickly to put a plan in place to tap these energy resources."

Last summer, as Americans began paying more than $4.00 a gallon for gasoline, the Congress - under pressure from the House Republican floor protest and pressure from the American Conservative Union - allowed a more than 25 year ban on expanded offshore energy production to end. 

To avoid a repeat of high gas prices, the American Conservative Union fully supports including all areas of the OCS for oil and natural gas development of domestic resources to create more jobs, more revenue for cash-strapped governments and greater energy security for our nation.

#          #          #

The American Conservative Union (ACU) is the nation's largest and oldest grassroots conservative organization.  ACU is the recognized authority on rating the conservative votes in Congress through its annual congressional ratings cited by CQ, National Journal and almost all major national and regional publications.  The American Conservative Union's Foundation (ACUF) is the host of the CPAC meeting.  ACU is on the web at:  http://www.conservative.org/