"Energy security is homeland security, and energy security is essential to preserving our freedom and decreasing our reliance on Middle East oil," said Congressman Wamp. "America's technology base can rapidly deploy systems to secure our country's future. Under the leadership of Chairman Shadegg, my colleagues on the House Policy Committee and I will work towards a balanced energy policy."

America faces a great challenge in that less than 2% of the world's oil reserves are in the United States, yet we use 25% of the world's oil. Natural gas prices in the United States are far higher than other industrialized countries.

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert appointed Congressman Wamp to the House Policy Committee last year for his knowledge and experience on energy issues. In his new position, Wamp was asked to develop a plan for how a newly-created Subcommittee on Energy and Technology would function and what its objectives would be. Under his plan, the Subcommittee would seek to help American energy companies create more jobs at home while protecting the security and future of U.S. infrastructure and investments from global terrorism and competition. 

Congressman Wamp's plan clearly states the need to move the United States' energy production in a more balanced direction so that Americans will not have to depend on foreign politics when paying for gasoline or heating their home. 

His policy highlights several emerging energy industries where House Republicans can work to maximize the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency technologies. This plan would speed up research and development, marketing and eliminate barriers between these innovations and the consumer. House Republicans would continue to advance the Hydrogen Economy through hybrid vehicles and fuel cell technologies.

Additionally, Wamp's plan supports options for the expansion of nuclear power and promotes cleaner coal refining programs to keep coal a substantial part of our energy mix.

House Republicans will continue to aggressively protect the United States' energy infrastructure in both the public and private sectors while reducing American dependence on foreign sources. In his plan, Congressman Wamp outlines how to improve drilling and completion methods, which are vital to increasing American natural gas production.