In August, while Democrats were on vacation, Republicans took to the dark House floor to protest Speaker Pelosi’s inaction on energy legislation. The Republican message centered primarily on domestic energy production. The Republicans’ protests – which reflected the views of the American public – were successful in keeping the Congressional moratorium on oil and gas exploration from being extended.

Today is a monumental day in the quest for energy independence, as the federal ban on energy exploration off our coasts has expired. To ensure Americans have access to the vast resources available in areas such as the Outer Continental Shelf, the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and the Mountain West, Congress must continue to work on legislation that enables these resources to be brought to market and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Rep. Culberson is a co-sponsor of a bi-partisan energy bill (H.R. 6709) that will bring relief to Americans by increasing domestic exploration and diversifying our country’s energy portfolio. The bill would increase energy conservation by extending tax credits for renewable energy production and hybrid cars, and improve energy efficiency by establishing tax credits for energy efficient buildings and homes. Additionally, the bill would increase domestic energy supply by allowing drilling 25 miles off our coasts. More production means more American jobs and growing our ailing manufacturing industry. Congress must act now or the victory will be short-lived.

Posted in Energy | 5 Comments | View Full Posting

In a rush to pass a bill before the Congressional moratorium on oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) expires on October 1, Democrats once again brought up meaningless energy legislation last week. Their latest bill – introduced late on Monday, Sept. 15, and brought to the floor for a vote in mere hours – will not help lower energy costs for Americans.

In their haste, Democrats failed to address a number of issues. The bill does not address refinery permitting, expansion of nuclear energy, or clean coal technology. Most importantly, though, it does not address drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and permanently blocks drilling in parts of the OCS. By blocking access to the abundant natural gas and oil resources in these areas, the Democrats are once again tying the hands of Americans.

To read Rep. Culberson’s statement on this bill, please click here.

Posted in Energy | 2 Comments | View Full Posting

At the start of this Congress, Nancy Pelosi published a document entitled "A New Direction for America." House Republicans, and the folks they are speaking to in the Capitol this August, believe that she is leading this House in the wrong direction.

Democrat’s Top 10 List of Broken Promises to the American People:

10) Every person in America has a right to have his or her voice heard. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

9) No Member of Congress should be silenced on the floor, as has been the practice of Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

8) There should be regular consultations among the elected leaders of parties to discuss scheduling, administration and operations of the House. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

7) There will be Bipartisan Administration of the House. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

6) Regular meetings between Chairs and Ranking Members of committees and staffs should be held. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

5) Bills should be developed following full hearings and open subcommittee and committee markups, with appropriate referrals to other committees. Members should have at least 24 hours to examine a bill prior to consideration at the subcommittee level. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

4) Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full, and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the Minority the right to offer its alternatives, including a substitute. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

3) Members should have at least 24 hours to examine bill and conference report text prior to floor consideration. Rules governing floor debate must be reported before 10 p.m. for a bill to be considered the following day. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

2) House-Senate conference committees should hold regular meetings (at least weekly) of all conference committee Members. All duly-appointed conferees should be informed of the schedule of conference committee activities in a timely manner and given ample opportunity for input and debate as decisions are made toward final bill language. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

1) And maybe the biggest sham so far - The Suspension Calendar should be restricted to non-controversial legislation, with minority-authored legislation scheduled in relation to the party ratio in the House. –Ignored by this Democrat Majority

Posted in Energy | 2 Comments | View Full Posting

Iraq possesses the third-largest oil reserves in the world, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report stating that Iraq is increasingly in a better position to finance its own security and economic needs. The GAO said Iraq this year will likely earn between $67 billion and $79 billion in oil sales – at least twice the average annual amount Iraq generated from 2005 through 2007. In comments included with the report, U.S. Treasury said that Iraq is moving toward a stronger position to “ultimately shoulder the full burden of its development, reconstruction, and security programs,” while cautioning that the country still needs to improve its budgeting and accountability for funds.

To date, American taxpayers have provided nearly $45 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq. Additionally, more than 40 nations outside of the U.S. have pledged $15.9 billion in economic reconstruction funds to Iraq.

With the increase in Iraq’s oil sales, it is reasonable to ask the Iraqi government to shoulder more of the financial burden of reconstruction. We should continue working with Iraq’s leaders to put a budget system in place to fund and manage its own reconstruction costs. Congressman Culberson has worked with his colleagues in the House on numerous occasions to include language in spending bills that would shift responsibility for reconstruction assistance funding from U.S. taxpayers to the Iraqi government, and will continue to work toward this end.

The Congressman does NOT support the abandonment of Iraq or an immediate reduction in troop levels. Our soldiers, sailors, Airmen, and Marines have freed the people of Iraq from a modern-day Hitler, and they continue to protect them and us from international terrorist organizations. Our country will be safer when Iraq is a stable and functional democracy.

Posted in Energy | 0 Comments | View Full Posting

American families and small businesses aren’t alone in struggling with soaring energy costs. As back-to-school season approaches, high energy costs also are putting the squeeze on schools all across the country. From elementary and secondary schools to community colleges and universities, schools at every level are grappling with the high price at the pump.

To help understand the scope of this problem, House Republicans today are launching a unique web-based initiative focused on how high energy prices will impact the coming school year. Housed at the Education & Labor Committee’s Republican website, this initiative will gather input from school officials, teachers, and families to determine the extent of the energy crisis in our schools – input that we will provide to both parties this fall to encourage decisive action by Congress to increase production of American energy to lower fuel costs.

Posted in Energy | 2 Comments | View Full Posting