Your Chamber continues to be at the forefront in the rallying call for the lifting of the federal government's moratorium on offshore drilling. National and local media have accessed Chamber resources in their coverage of issues dealing with the moratorium and the BP oil spill.
News coverage has ranged from The Wall Street Journal to local broadcast stories on KPEL Radio and television stations KLFY and KATC. The primary story line was the economic impact, direct and indirect, on our member-investors.
The Chamber last week joined 28 other Gulf Coast chambers of commerceand industry groups and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)I in supporting the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its filing of a legal brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to uphold a federal judge's decision to halt the six-month moratorium on offshore exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.
"The economic losses inflicted by the moratorium are nothing short of staggering,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber. "Every day the moratorium remains in effect, the drilling rigs sit idle—which will force companies to redeploy their assets, sending jobs and revenue to foreign waters. And every day the moratorium remains in effect, American workers lose millions of dollars in wages.”
We are also one of the organizers of the Rally for Economic Survival at the Cajundome on July 21st between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Rally will give a united voice to Louisiana citizens impacted by the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Together we will send a message to the Obama administration to lift the moratorium for Louisiana's jobs and America's energy future.
This week, the Chamber will host a special breakfast event featuring John Hofmeister. Business and community leaders from Lake Charles to Houma will gather at the Cajundome on July 8th to hear his message which promotes sound U.S. energy security solutions for the nation. A former president of Shell Oil Company, Hofmeister is the founder of the public policy firm, Citizens for Affordable Energy and offers an articulate, knowledgeable voice on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, deepwater moratorium consequences, and long-term national energy policies. A pro-industry advocate, Hofmeister's pragmatic approach is a galvanizing platform for South Louisiana's energy sector.
His presentation will address energy supplies, efficiency improvements, essential infrastructure, sustainable environmental policies and public education on energy issues.
This week also includes the qualifying of candidates who seek public office in various city and parish governments: and that's everybody except the Lafayette Consolidation Government. The races which will draw the most public interest are those for the nine seats on the Lafayette Parish School Board. The elections are schedule for this fall.
