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Energy, Environment and Public Lands
Addressing issues relating to energy, the environment and public lands is an important part of my work in Congress.
Where I Stand
I believe we must balance the needs of a healthy environment with the needs of a vibrant economy. In recent years, the federal government has in too many instances veered away from common-sense environmental protection and instead pursued an ideological agenda. These policies destroy jobs and do little, if anything, to help the people, wildlife or plants they purport to protect.
In Eastern North Carolina, we have seen these short-sighted policies on many levels. Some exapmles are the excessive restrictions on visitor access at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a laundry list of unnecessary fishing regulations, and regulatory vetoes of essential infrastructure projects such as jetties at Oregon Inlet and replacement of Bonner Bridge.
On the national level, similarly unnecessarily restrictive policies are increasing the cost of energy for all of us - particularly those who can least afford it. They also encourage businesses to relocate overseas. The reality is that the American economy depends on low-cost energy. We ought to be getting as much of that energy as possible from right here at home, instead of depending on foreign entities in the Middle East and elsewhere that don’t have our best interests in mind. As a result, I am a strong supporter of efforts to open up areas such as Alaska’s Arctic to new oil and gas development, as well as immediately starting construction on the Keystone XL pipeline.
Legislative Action in the 113th Congress
Sponsored Legislation
H.R. 819 - Preserving Access to Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreational Area Act - Would repeal excessive restrictions on human access to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore recreational area.
H.R. 126 - Corolla Wild Horses Protection Act - Would require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of North Carolina, Currituck County, and the Corolla Wild Horse Fund to craft a new management plan to allow the herd of wild horses inhabiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina to grow to the size found by equine scientists to be necessary to maintain genetic viability. This legislation has passed the House and will go to the Senate for further consideration.
Cosponsored Legislation
H.R. 3 - Northern Route Approval Act - Would allow construction to begin on the Keystone XL Pipeline without approval from President Obama or other members of the executive, as the State Department has already asserted that the project will have no significant impact on the environment.
H.R. 621 - Ensuring Affordable Energy Act - Would prohibit any funds appropriated for the Environmental Protection Agency from being used to implement or enforce a cap-and-trade program or any other requirement pertaining to emissions of greenhouse gases.
H.R. 638 - National Wildlife Refuge Review Act of 2013 - Would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from establishing any new national wildlife refuges, except as expressly authorized by law.
H.R. 724 - Would amend the Clean Air Act to remove the requirement that a dealer of new light-duty motor vehicles furnish a certification to the purchaser that the vehicle conforms to applicable regulations concerning emission standards.
H.R. 979 - Would amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to include in the definition of “biobased product” forest products that meet biobased content requirements.
H.R. 1778 - Cormorant Management and Natural Resources Protection Act - Would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to delegate to states the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under that act with respect to cormorants.
Signed Letters
Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel Ashe opposing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to expand the 110,000-acre Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge by another 11,000 acres. The letter explains that the expansion of the refuge is too expensive for a federal government that is already running large yearly deficits, and local governments surrounding the refuge are concerned that the expansion would negatively impact the region’s economy.
Letter to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Daniel Ashe requesting a thorough assessment of the economic impact of the proposed Critical Habitat Designation for loggerhead sea turtles. The proposed rule would hinder efforts – which are crucial to protecting life and property and fostering a healthy tourism industry on the coast – to restore severely eroded beaches in the designated areas.
Related Action
Congressman Jones assisted in securing $8.95 million in Hurricane Sandy disaster dollars for the Oregon Inlet, which is critical to North Carolina’s coastal economy.