Harrison Township, MI – U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10) today released the following statement regarding the unrest in Libya and across the Middle East:

“The unrest in Libya is another sign that our nation must take action to protect our vital national interests and support the efforts of those who are seeking freedom across the globe. In 2004, I traveled to Libya with a U.S. congressional delegation to make the first official visit in decades. Our delegation met with Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in his tent, in front of which was his bombed-out home left as a shrine with a gold statue of a fist crushing an American airplane. We saw firsthand the dictatorial regime.

“During this past week there have been unspeakable atrocities committed against countless numbers of the Libyan people who are seeking reform. The United States must support those brave men and women who are seeking to throw off the shackles of tyranny in Libya.

“Instability in the Middle East has the potential to cause great problems for our economic security. Because of this unrest we have already seen oil prices spike which threatens our economic recovery. Now is the time for the Obama Administration and the United States Congress to take action to open up vast American energy reserves to exploration so that our economy is not held hostage to events outside of our control. Not only will opening up domestic energy reserves currently off limits for exploration provide a safety net against instability overseas, it will also help to create hundreds of thousands of jobs here in the United States where they are so desperately needed.”

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