Protecting American Energy Production Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. STAUBER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 26, this bipartisan Protecting American Energy Production Act, which will pass the House.

Just 20 years ago, we were afraid we were nearing the end of U.S. oil and gas production, then came hydraulic fracturing and the beginning of the shale revolution.

Hydraulic fracturing brought energy security to Americans and made the United States an energy exporter for the first time just a few years ago.

With hydraulic fracturing, we are increasing our economic and our national security while also increasing the economic and national security of our closest allies.

For every barrel of oil that we export, we are displacing a dirtier barrel of oil produced by adversarial nations. Thanks to hydraulic fracturing, our energy supply continues to get cleaner.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle will likely argue today that this bill is a solution in search of a problem. They will ask: Why are we doing this if the Trump administration doesn't plan on banning fracking?

Frankly, Madam Speaker, this bill isn't about this administration, it is an insurance policy to protect against future anti-oil, anti-gas, and anti-American energy administrations.

We are coming off the tail end of the most anti-oil and -gas and anti-traditional energy administration in this Nation's history, and I am afraid that this was just a preview of what could happen down the line.

That is why we are acting today. We are voting to protect Americans' access to reliable, affordable, and clean American energy no matter which President is in the White House.

We need to unlock our energy awesomeness. We need to continue our progress on energy.

Madam Speaker, just a few minutes ago, my colleague across the aisle talked about clean, affordable, reliable energy. I want to remind my colleagues that I live in northern Minnesota. Last week it was 40 degrees below, and we just had to turn on the heat, which is natural gas. I didn't have to worry about my six children--the youngest being 3--being frozen to death, or my pipes freezing.

I didn't have to worry about my mother, who is 90 years old, and my father, who is 91, freezing in 40 degrees below zero turning up the heat with clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

I have no idea why my colleagues on the other side of the aisle wouldn't support this bipartisan legislation for American energy, American technology, and American workers.

Madam Speaker, I support this legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source