Energy: An All of the Above Approach

High gas prices affect everyone. Energy prices heavily influence the economy in West Tennessee, and it is important that we support a comprehensive approach to energy production. I maintain a broad all-of-the-above approach that takes all of our resources into consideration. I could not disagree more with those that believe in a very narrow limiting energy policy. I will continue to support legislation that encourages domestic energy production, energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities.

I support the following:

The Keystone XL Pipeline

The Keystone XL Pipeline would carry oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast, providing more oil for America’s energy needs and employing tens of thousands of people immediately. By rejecting the Keystone pipeline President Obama has chosen a narrow energy policy and turned his back on jobs for unemployed Americans and ignored a way to take advantage of some of North America’s own energy supplies.

In February 2012, TransCanada announced that it plans to break up the $7.6 billion project into several stand-alone parts, beginning immediately with a section connecting Cushing, Oklahoma with the Gulf Coast. TransCanada would build a pipeline from Cushing to the Gulf of Mexico to help push oil out of Cushing where there is a delay in keeping up with demand due in large part from increased domestic oil production, currently at an eight-year high.

ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)

I requested that the president begin oil drilling in a small portion of ANWR in 2011. Energy policies should not be this complicated. We need to drill here at home. By taking advantage of oil discoveries in the last few years, we can eliminate our dependence on foreign oils and keep energy prices low. ANWR consists of 19 million acres in northeast Alaska. Its 1.5-million-acre coastal plain is viewed by development proponents as a promising onshore oil prospect. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the mean estimate of technically recoverable oil from multiple prospects on the federally owned land in the Refuge is 7.7 billion barrels (billion bbl), and there is a small chance that more than 11.8 billion bbl could be recovered on the federal lands over the life of the prospective fields. If the oil is drilled at 660,000 bbl per day, there would be enough oil to provide to the U.S. for 30 years.

H.R. 3548: North American Energy Access Act

Under H.R. 3548, President Obama would be cut out of the equation and the fate of the Keystone Pipeline would be left to expert individuals not influenced by special interest groups or re-election campaigns. As a co-sponsor and strong supporter of this bill, I am working with Congressman Lee Terry (R-Neb.) to see that we can bring the Keystone pipeline back to the table so that we can get more Americans back to work.

H.R. 3408: Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security Act (PIONEERS ACT)

The purpose of this legislation was to set clear rules for the development of United States oil shale resources, to promote shale technology research and development. This bill would help to ensure that states that have historically allowed offshore drilling would continue to be provided with a fair amount of the revenue derived from this exploration.

H.R. 2021: Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011

This legislation would end Washington Bureaucratic red tape causing unnecessary permitting delays on offshore energy production opportunities. This bill would amend the Clean Air Act – which has created confusion and delayed oil exploration in the Alaskan Outer Continental Shelf – by shortening the EPA’s approval process for issuing air pollution permits for offshore oil and gas development.

H.R. 1231: Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act

As a co-sponsor this bill to lift the President’s ban on new offshore drilling by requiring the Administration to move forward on American energy production in areas containing the most oil and natural gas resources. More specifically, this legislation would require that each five-year offshore leasing plan includes lease sales in the areas containing the greatest known oil and natural gas reserves. According to the Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 1231 will generate $800 million in revenue over 10 years.

H.R. 1230: Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act

As a co-sponsor this bill that would expand American energy production and create jobs by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to conduct oil and natural gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Virginia that have been delayed or cancelled by the Obama Administration. By developing five-year plans to determine where and when offshore leasing and energy production will occur, this legislation would reverse the Obama Administration’s actions and proceed with scheduled lease sales in a prompt, timely, and safe manner.

H.R. 1229: Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act

As a co-sponsor this bill which ends the Obama Administration’s de facto moratorium, in a safe, responsible, and transparent manner. This bill would put thousands of Americans back to work. It would increase American energy production to help address rising gasoline prices.