All Houstonians know the importance of the oil and gas industry to our city and to the country. House Conservatives are in favor of identifying domestic energy sources, expanding onshore energy production, streamlining permitting processes, and reducing bureaucratic red tape.  

In Texas, we know that low taxes, smart and limited regulations, and robust American energy production are the key to economic growth. The Obama Administration has overseen the four lowest years of federal acres leased for energy production since 1988 and energy producers on federal lands have to wait on average 30 percent longer for drilling permit approval than applicants applying for state permits.

It doesn’t take more than a drive down I-10 to see the benefits from the booming natural gas and oil exploration industry; our growing city is a testament to its importance. The bills I voted for this week will ease the way for a true all-of-the-above energy policy. I hope that the Senate and President Obama will join the House and pass these bipartisan job-creating bills that promote oil production on federal lands.

For years, House Republicans have been working on an all-of-the-above energy strategy that will lower gas prices and create jobs.

 

One of the most important things that the government can do is approve the Keystone XL Energy Pipeline. Keystone XL will create over 20,000 jobs while battling the high price of gas.The Keystone pipeline had been planned for years, is supported by Republicans, Democrats, and labor unions, but President Obama blocked it.

 

?Recently, the House passed three bills to increase American energy production:

 

1.      H.R. 1965, the Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act sets firm deadlines for the Interior Secretary to issue leases and prohibits the Secretary from changing the rules after the leases and contracts have been finalized. In addition, it requires the Interior Secretary to responsibly develop our federal onshore energy resources alongside a true all-of-the-above energy plan that includes oil, natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, oil shale, and minerals. 

2.      H.R. 2728, Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act would keep the federal government from interfering in any state’s federal hydraulic fracturing activity if the state already has regulations, guidance, or permit requirements. 

3.      H.R. 1900, Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act would modernize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) review process for natural gas pipeline project applications and require that FERC approve or deny a requested pipeline certificate within 12 months of receiving a complete application.

 

These three bills are in addition to numerous other House-passed bills to maximize american energy production:

• Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R. 1230)
• Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (H.R. 1229)
• Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R. 1231)
• Jobs and Energy Permitting Act (H.R. 2021)
• North American-Made Energy Security Act (H.R. 1938)
• Congressional Replacement of President Obama’s Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan (H.R. 6002)