Energy
I, like you, understand the United States’ dependence on foreign oil is one gravest national security issues facing our country. If America wants to reduce its dependence on foreign oil we must utilize our own resources right here in America. According to a report from the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. has the largest energy reserves in the world. The report also states that the U.S. has tapped into only 13%, or 21 billion barrels, of its oil reserves, while the other 87% lies untouched. It is in the best interest of Arizonans and every American to push for policies that fully embrace our nation’s energy potential.
As a member of the Committee on Natural Resources, I can tell you that debate on gas prices has already occurred during a full committee hearing. I made inquiries to those testifying on the impact of gas and oil prices on industry and they concluded that rising gas prices affect consumers twice – both at the pump and at their local retail markets in the cost of goods sold. That being the case, we must do everything in our power to explore an all-of-the-above energy plan to alleviate energy costs while simultaneously developing future sources of energy.
Accordingly, I am actively working to address rising gasoline and energy prices that are hurting families and small businesses. This is why I recently voted for three offshore-energy bills that would increase American energy production, thus addressing rising gas prices in the state of Arizona and across the county. H.R. 1229, H.R. 1230, and H.R. 1231, are each aimed at restarting offshore leasing, reversing the administration's effective moratorium on new offshore drilling, and putting the Gulf Coast back to work in searching for and developing energy. By advancing these bills, Congress would increase American energy production, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our national security. These bills will now be put on the legislative calendar so that the full House of Representatives may vote on them. I plan to vote for them again on the floor of the House.
I am committed to responsible developmentof domestic natural resources including oil – development that takes into full account the natural beautyof our landsand ecosystem. Roughly 40% of all energy consumed in the United States is derived from oil. While our country continues to climb out of a recession, gas prices continue to rise, which further cripples our ability to recover and prosper. The American people should not be in the position of having to pay upwards of 5 dollars for a gallon of gas. The need to examine alternative energy must be a top priority.
Increased off-shore drilling is just one aspect of my efforts to restart domestic energy production. There will be an array of legislation coming soon that will focus on renewable energy, onshore energy, hydropower and critical minerals. I firmly believe Arizona’s First Congressional District can be a model for energy driven economic recovery in this country. Rural Arizona is rich with natural resources ripe for extraction and contains diverse climates that are conducive to all forms of energy generation, including traditional fossil fuels, hydro-electric, solar, and wind power, but employment in Arizona’s natural resources and mining sector has remained stagnant for nearly two years. The federal government needs to get out of the way, remove regulatory and bureaucratic barriers to development and generation, and let Arizona businesses put Arizonans back to work.
For more information concerning my work and views on the issue of Energy, please contact my Washington, DC office.
I look forward to your feedback.
Thank you.