Washington, DC- Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) today issued the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union address:

"Oil production is up in spite of the President's policies, not because of them.  This increased production has nothing to do with his policies. It has everything to do with the private sector and their initiative and innovation. The private sector has taken the risks and made the investment in technology that opened up a new era in American energy production.

"The President's new found support for natural gas is election year politics. The President cannot tout natural gas production on one hand and support the EPA's unfounded efforts to shut down hydraulic fracturing on the other.

"Look at gasoline prices. They have doubled since January 2009. Canadian crude piped in through Keystone can largely offset imports from Middle East that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Stabilizing our energy supply will go a long way to reduce the price we pay at the pump.  Canada is a strong ally - We should be their biggest energy customer, not the Middle East, Brazil and Venezuela.

"The President also mentioned the number of regulations coming out of his White House.  He failed to mention the exorbitant cost of the regulations coming out of his EPA and other agencies. They are crushing jobs and hurting our economy. The Obama White House has restricted access to domestic natural resources on and offshore. House Republicans have been pushing for more domestic production and a comprehensive energy plan for years."

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