Protecting American Energy Production Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. ANSARI. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 26. My constituents sent me to Congress to fight for them for clean water, clean air, job security, and lower prices. This legislation accomplishes absolutely none of those things.

H.R. 26 says that the President cannot issue a ban on fracking unless authorized by Congress.

It is obviously a little bit ridiculous that President Trump is not going to ban fracking. In fact, no President has ever banned fracking. What this bill is, is just an opportunity for some House Republicans to signal their support for their Big Oil allies and their billionaire friends.

The United States is already producing more oil than ever, more than any other country in history. Republicans' dirty drilling agenda will not make America any more energy dominant, and it won't drive prices down.

If we could drill our way out of the affordability crisis, then we would have already done so. The answer is not more oil. When we drill more and more, the only ones who benefit are those at the top, the CEOs, the multinational corporations, and the already rich billionaires who are profiting off of the American people.

In fact, several Federal Trade Commission complaints and class action lawsuits from last year say that Big Oil CEOs have been illegally colluding with each other and with some of our adversaries to keep prices high and profits up. Big Oil is already getting at least $15 billion in subsidies from the Federal Government.

What more could they possibly want? This dirty drilling agenda has never been about lowering costs. Less than 3 weeks in, this administration's true colors are already shining. After promising lower prices for everyday Americans, the President is threatening a trade war with our closest allies which will drive up the costs to produce everything from energy to cars to technology. The administration is threatening mass deportations of people who are part of the workforce and contributing to our economy, and the Republican-led Congress is plotting how to cut spending on healthcare and clean energy in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 26.

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