Sen. Cornyn, Former Congressman Peterson Join Gulf Area Residents to Remind Policymakers That 'Energy Jobs Matter' at Capitol Hill Press Conference

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Senator John Cornyn and Former Congressman John Peterson are scheduled to join more than 50 Gulf Coast area residents for a press event on the Capitol grounds on Wednesday, August 4, to remind policymakers that the energy sector is critical to the overall economic health of America and to our nation's energy security. The event is organized by Save U.S. Energy Jobs, a project of the American Energy Alliance.

"My job matters," Thomas Clements, a small business owner from Broussard, Louisiana said. "So I'm flying to Washington, DC, to find somebody to hear me, to see my hopelessness, my no-man's-land that I'm in because of this moratorium and to understand that this needs to be lifted soon."

Thomas will be joined by small business owners who rely on the energy industry for their business's success. According to a recent study released by Louisiana State University professor Dr. Joseph Mason, the six month moratorium will cost the Gulf region alone more than 8,000 jobs and more than $2.1 billion in economic activity. And if the administration's ban is extended – its consequences would be much, much worse.

These small business owners are coming to Washington to tell their representatives, "My Job Matters" and to ask their elected officials to lift the moratorium on energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and to not support changes to the tax code that would unfairly harm U.S. energy companies. In addition to the current ban on offshore drilling, President Obama and Members of Congress have not ruled out an extended moratorium and have also suggested repealing two provisions of the tax code that would raise burdens on American-based energy companies, and they're considering raising the cap on liabilities for energy companies. Any of these new laws would do irreparable harm to U.S. energy companies, raise the price of energy for consumers, weaken our nation's energy security, and kill U.S. jobs.

Following the press conference, the Gulf Coast residents will spread out across Capitol Hill to speak to their representatives in Congress and their staffs.

Founded in May, 2008, The American Energy Alliance ("AEA") is a not-for-profit organization that engages in grassroots public policy advocacy and debate concerning energy and environmental policies.  AEA is the advocacy arm of the Institute for Energy Research (IER), a not-for-profit organization – founded in 1989 – that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets.

SOURCE The American Energy Alliance