District 19 residents, like all Americans, are undeniably fed up with filling up their gas tanks and emptying their wallets at the same time. Time and again, I hear stories of how folks on a fixed income are choosing whether to travel long distances for medical treatment or buy the food they need. Local officials tell me about how rising energy prices have impacted school and law enforcement budgets.
As I traveled around the 19th Congressional District in August, I also saw how West Texas and the Big Country are a large part of the solution to our energy problem. Our region has increased the production of energy from many different sources, creating new jobs and growing our economy, and more parts of the country need to follow our lead. I want to thank all of those who shared their ideas with me and who took the time to show me how many types of energy are produced in District 19.
We cannot just drill our way out of this energy problem, but what we can do is say “YES” to all possibilities. Yes, we should drill in Alaska and off the outer continental shelf. Yes, we should put to use our nearly 300-year supply of coal. Yes, we should build new refineries and new nuclear plants. And yes, we should put just as much focus on alternative and renewable sources of energy as we should with traditional fossil fuels. Energy independence is of the utmost necessity for this country’s security.
I will take the information I’ve gained on this tour back to Washington in September. Congress must find energy solutions that are accessible and affordable so we can stop exporting $700 billion dollars a year to buy energy and instead invest that in American production of traditional fossil fuels as well as renewable and alternative fuels. This will create more jobs, grow our economy and strengthen our national security.
