Letter to Jim Cooper R.E. H.R. 2784

The Honorable Jim Cooper
605 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37219

Dear Representative:

I am writing to ask that you join your colleague Lincoln Davis in cosponsoring and supporting H.R. 2784. A bill that would open more of the continental shelf, from 50 to 200 miles out from the shoreline, for oil exploration. This bill would open up 8.5 billion barrels (potentially 86 billion barrels) of oil for recovery. Eight and a half billion barrels of oil is more than two year of our total oil imports. It is over ten years of our total imports form the Persian Gulf.

It is true that it would take years for this oil to become available, which is all the more reason to get this bill passed as quickly as possible. Just opening this area for drilling would send a message that we are serious about expanding our production and potentially help stabilize this volatile market. I understand that this bill will before the full Appropriations committee soon. I know that you are not on this committee but I ask that you use your considerable influence to see that this bill becomes available for a full house vote.

Respectfully,
Clovis Chitwood
www.clovischitwood.com