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President Barack Obama has received criticism from both sides of the aisle Wednesday after announcing that his administration will support lifting the moratorium on oil and natural gas drilling off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

"I object to expanding offshore drilling," said Senate Democrat Ben Cardin (Md.). "We need to explore and drill currently held lands before risking permanent damage to some of our nation’s most sensitive environmental areas."

Fellow Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski (D) highlighted off shore drilling's potential risks.

"Offshore drilling brings with it great concerns, from the potential of oil spills to the protection of our defense facilities located along the coast, for our national security," said Mikulski.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) struck a different tone, and instead issued a statement blasting the president for taking too limited of an approach.

"Opening up areas off the Virginia coast to offshore production is a positive step, but keeping the Pacific Coast and Alaska, as well as the most promising resources off the Gulf of Mexico, under lock and key makes no sense," said Boehner.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who chairs the Senate Republican Conference, expressed wariness following the announcement.

“As we learned in the health care debate, it’s important to read the fine print before signing up," said Alexander in an emailed statement.