Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2883, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act, introduced by my friend and Great Plains colleague to the south, Markwayne Mullin.

This bill could not come at a better time. As we continue to have discussions in this country about both our future as an energy leader and our trading relationship with Mexico and Canada, it is time to review bureaucratic permitting processes that constrain new energy transportation projects. This bill does just that. It improves and streamlines the permitting process for pipelines and energy transmission equipment when they are crossing U.S. international borders.

Energy trade within North America is a nearly $150 billion business that provides significant benefits here at home. This bill shows that we can focus on protecting our environment and being an energy leader.

It maintains full environmental reviews and continues compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
We saw how broken our current regulatory structure was when politics and personal interests nearly ended the Keystone XL pipeline without any regard to science, facts, or the livelihoods of the people who needed those jobs. This legislation will allow American entrepreneurs to stop fighting endless red tape and uncertain timelines and get back to doing what we do best: creating jobs, innovating, and making North America a leader in energy production.

Voters have told us time and time again to get the bureaucratic morass of Big Government out of the way. They have asked us to promote an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes oil and gas and to unleash the power of free trade and American innovation. They have asked for good jobs and more energy security.
I thank my good friend from Oklahoma for sponsoring this. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2838, the Promoting Cross-Border Energy Infrastructure Act.

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