U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s ban on offshore drilling in parts of the Arctic and Atlantic: “President Obama’s continuing efforts to appease radical special interest groups in the waning days of his administration is beyond the pale. His recent actions to restrict access to energy exploration in the Arctic and Atlantic will impede energy development, economic growth and job growth, while putting our national security at ris... Read more

By U.S. Rep. Bill Flores On Election Day, the American people sent a clear message. They no longer will stand for weaker national security, executive branch overreach, excessive regulation and the unbridled expansion of the federal government. After eight years of failed Washington policies, hardworking Americans rejected the status quo in Washington and they want to go a different direction. Over the past several months, I have been working with my fellow House of Representatives colleagues to ... Read more

U.S. Representatives Bill Flores (R-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jim Costa (D-CA) issued the following joint statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2017 volume requirement for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): “Today, the EPA announced that it is again increasing the amount of ethanol to be forced into our nation’s gasoline supplies under the Renewable Fuel Standard. These higher volumes of ethanol will increase the costs of fuel and food for our constituents. In additio... Read more

U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the Department of Interior’s flawed five-year offshore drilling plan: “President Obama has once again impeded energy development opportunities by appeasing the unreasonable demands of radical special interest groups. By closing off exploration to taxpayer-owned Arctic and Atlantic waters, he is continuing to prevent America from continuing its progress toward energy security and increased economic opportunity. For... Read more

By Brian Dabbs Nov. 17 — A Trump administration and new leadership of the Senate’s environment committee may breathe new life into efforts to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard, lawmakers and advocates say. House members are continuing to build momentum around bipartisan legislation (H.R. 5180) to limit EPA ethanol requirements in total transportation fuel at 9.7 percent. Opponents of the mandate also are happy about the likely selection of Sen. John Barrasso... Read more

By: Nicole Barrios U.S. Congressman Bill Flores explained a sweeping plan to change federal policies — including ending the controversial Obamacare health care plan — during the Pflugerville Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon on Election Day Nov. 8. Flores provided chamber members with key points of “A Better Way,” a plan spearheaded by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan that could change how the federal government handles poverty, national security, health care and the tax system. The update was... Read more

U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding passage of the FY 2017 Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill: “Under the Obama administration, federal agencies have been notorious in abusing their power through overreaching federal regulations. Fortunately, several of these regulations have been halted by the courts. The appropriations process provides Congress an opportunity to rein in out-of-control regulators. With ... Read more

U.S. Representative Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court’s ruling against the Department of Interior’s hydraulic fracturing rule: “Hydraulic fracturing is an integral part of the American energy renaissance and its technological advances have dramatically enhanced America’s energy security. States have been safely and effectively regulating hydraulic fracturing on both government and privately owned lands for decades. Yet, the Department of Inter... Read more

By Reps. Bill Flores (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) It is not often you find a Democrat from the Green Mountain State and a Republican from the Lone Star State in Washington agreeing on energy issues, but when it comes to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) we have found common ground in the fight to reform the ethanol mandate—a well-intentioned policy that has turned out to be an overwhelming flop for consumers, businesses and the environment. In response, we have jointly developed a bipartisa... Read more

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed two bipartisan resolutions disapproving of the Obama Administration’s proposed taxes on energy. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding passage of these resolutions: “President Obama's proposed carbon tax and $10-a-barrel tax on oil would raise energy prices, cost jobs and weaken our economy. These taxes would harm businesses and hardworking American families who are already struggling with stagnant wages. Today, the... Read more