Drill Here Drill Now Victory Newt Gingrich's American Solutions movement celebrates Congress' plan to lift offshore drilling ban Following the news that Congress is not going to push for the extension of the offshore drilling ban, American Solutions General Chairman and former Speaker Newt Gingrich declared a milestone victory on behalf of the American people and the 1.5 million members of the "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" movement. Gingrich stated that lifting the offshore drilling ban is a first and essential step toward an affordable energy independent future. He went on to point out that while this was a tremendous victory for the American people who have been hurt by the high cost of gasoline and diesel, this victory was only the first step. "Congress now needs to create a comprehensive energy strategy," Gingrich said. "Lifting of the ban allows us to continue with the work of creating an affordable, self-reliant energy-independent future." American Solutions, founded by Gingrich, has led the "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" movement that began with a petition drive urging Congress to allow for more drilling for oil and gas to provide Americans with relief from high fuel costs. This petition drive, which began on May 20, resulted in nearly 1.5 million Americans signing the petition. Those signatures were delivered to the Congress and to both the Democratic and Republican national conventions. American Solutions was able to bring together a broad coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents to get Congress to act. "It proves, once again, that when the American people come together, they can create dramatic and positive change," Gingrich said. Over the course of American Solutions' effort to lower fuel costs, President Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling, both presidential campaigns modified their opposition to offshore drilling and Congress, today, has concluded that in response to the overwhelming support for more drilling, decided to drop its opposition to renewing the Congressional offshore drilling ban. In addition to drilling for more oil right here at home, American Solutions has advocated for an energy strategy that includes clean coal, nuclear, wind, solar, biofuels, flex-fuel cars, hydrogen, and prizes for technological breakthroughs for new ways to successfully toward affordable energy independence. For more information about the "Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less" movement, visit www.AmericanSolutions.com/DrillNow . Source: American Solutions for Winning the Future CONTACT: Dan Kotman of American Solutions for Winning the Future,