Issue Position: Energy Independence

Issue Position

Pete Sessions Plan for Energy Independence
Energy plays a key role in the Texas economy and creates jobs in the 32nd Congressional District. I support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that would allow the free market to unleash America's vast natural resources, create new jobs at home, and lead the way to energy independence.
Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has chosen to constrain domestic production of oil and gas and the development of our natural resources. While falsely taking credit for today's energy boom, the Obama Administration has slammed the brakes on safe onshore drilling on public lands. Prices could be even lower than they are today if the Administration truly favored domestic production of our resources. Instead, President Obama's energy policy harms working families by raising the cost of electricity at the home and the price of gas at the pump.
Despite rapid and extensive development of new natural gas reserves, the Obama Administration has delayed permitting for new LNG export facilities which could produce thousands of high-paying construction jobs while boosting U.S. exports across the globe. These new export facilities should be granted permits as soon as they adequately comply with all relevant regulations.

Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline

The Keystone XL pipeline, which has been blocked by the Administration since September 19, 2008, is a $7 billion private-sector infrastructure project that would create tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The pipeline would move up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to U.S. refineries and markets. Experts agree that North American can be energy independent by 2020, if not sooner, yet the Obama Administration's policies continue delay this positive change. I have repeatedly joined my Republican colleagues in calling on the President to finally approve the Keystone XL and I will continue to call for the pipeline to be built to create more American jobs and lower American energy prices.

Rein in the EPA

The Obama Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has constantly overreached into our economy in unprecedented and unconstitutional ways. The EPA's onslaught of expensive new rules and regulations drive up energy costs and destroy jobs. Instead of burdening our economy, the EPA should encourage domestic energy production and work with private-sector companies to promote safe and effective means for securing our nation's vast energy resources. I am committed to fighting against the EPA's destructive policies that harm Texans and all Americans.

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