Energy

Solving our nation’s energy crisis is one of the most vital issues of our time. With energy prices continuing to fluctuate, many of my colleagues and I have been pushing for broad-based solutions today to help power our nation for generations to come.

To effect measurable change, Congress must address every aspect of the energy crisis, including the need to increase American-made energy, the need to improve energy conservation and efficiency, and the need to increase alternative and renewable energy technologies.

In recent years, alternative fuel production, particularly natural gas, and advanced technology vehicles that run on this natural gas have seen huge advances that could decrease our dependence on foreign oil while also improving air quality and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We just need to harness this potential. One approach that I believe will alleviate the price of fuel across the board is to allow greater access to federal lands containing oil and natural gas resources and to remove barriers to development on lands that we have already leased.  Several residents of Louisiana have contacted me to voice their support for this commonsense approach.  And frankly, I could not agree with them more.

However, major barriers still exist that prevent the widespread use of these fuels and technologies. Rest assured that I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ease the burden of high energy prices on Americans.