Especially with conflicts arising in energy-rich areas of our world, the importance of North American energy independence to our wallets, our economy and our national security increases every day.  That’s why I support an all-of-the-above approach that includes natural gas, wind, ethanol, clean coal, renewable energies, and domestic oil. 

Step outside in South Dakota and it probably isn’t surprising that much of the state’s energy is produced by wind.  I have led efforts in the House to extend the Production Tax Credit for wind energy so the industry can continue to build on its success. 

With thousands of jobs on the line – including many in South Dakota, I’ve voted repeatedly to move the Keystone XL pipeline forward.  Constructing this pipeline can create a healthier economy and higher-paying jobs while also allowing the U.S. to be less reliant on the Middle East for fuels that heat and cool our homes and get our cars from point A to point B. I was grateful to work with President Trump to finally get this done.

Too often, the federal government limits the ability of industries to grow due to regulations. The EPA is no different. I supported H.R.1430, HONEST Act, which passed the House in 2017 to prohibit the EPA from proposing or finalizing a rule until all the scientific and technical information relied on to support the rule is identified.

I have also fought against federal regulations that seek to limit energy production in the U.S. and drive up costs.  In South Dakota, families earning less than $50,000 annually already spend one-fifth of their after-tax income on energy, which is double the national average.  Many can’t afford to pay more.