Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Values

Supports use of all sources of American energy in order to lower prices at the pump and decrease our dependence on foreign oil. According to the International Energy Agency, in the next decade the United States will surpass Saudi Arabia as largest oil producer and is also projected to be the largest exporter of oil as early as 2030.
Believes a strong national energy policy is an essential component to a thriving economy and the creation of jobs. Coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar, hydro-power, domestic oil, and biomass all may play a critical role in America's energy future.

Supports common sense policies that safeguard our ability to have clean air and clean water. However, excessive and misguided regulations can threaten the livelihoods of hardworking American families and have the potential to raise energy costs for every American. In the midst of the worst economic downturn in decades, we should not jeopardize thousands of jobs while decreasing our access to American energy.

Supports a four-point energy plan:

Drill. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil means we must drill for our own domestic oil and natural gas.

Dig. The United States has the largest coal reserves in the world. I support proposals that encourage the United States to tap into its abundant and affordable domestic energy resources, including coal.

Discover. We can use our universities and think-tanks to find new energy sources and ways to use energy more efficiently.

Deregulate. It is time for government to get out of the way and let private businesses use our domestic energy resources more freely.

Supports coal use and production. At a time when many Americans are being forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table, it is unacceptable for the federal government to hinder the use of coal and other domestic energy sources. Burdensome energy regulations have led to higher energy costs, which put a strain on working families and those on fixed incomes. Higher electric prices also make it more expensive to manufacture goods in America. When American goods are more expensive, they are less competitive in the global economy. The bottom line is that American jobs are at stake as a result of federal regulations on coal and other domestic energy resources.

Actions

Cosponsored H.R. 3140, Ensure Reliable and Affordable American Energy Act. This legislation would delay the implementation of new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations until other countries comprising at least 80 percent of non-U.S. global carbon dioxide emissions enact regulations that are at least as stringent as EPA's new standards.

Cosponsored H. J. Res. 64, a resolution of disapproval for the EPA's new Greenhouse Gas rule for power-generating facilities.

Voted to support H.R. 367, Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2013 (REINS Act), which would require Congress to approve of all major regulations that cost $50 million or more. Any regulation on carbon emissions would automatically be subject to congressional approval.

Cosponsored H.R. 3, Northern Route Approval Act, which would clear the way for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline by removing the requirement for a Presidential permit.

Cosponsored H.R. 1782, Virginia Jobs and Energy Act, which would enable the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the coast of Virginia to open for energy development.

Voted to support H.R. 2231, Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, which would direct the Secretary of the Interior to implement a leasing program that includes at least 50 percent of the available unleased acreage within each outer Continental Shelf (OCS) planning area considered to have the largest undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources, with an emphasis on offering the most geologically prospective parts of the planning area. [Note: Virginia would be in the first series of leases].

Cosponsored H.R. 1829, Coal Jobs Protection Act of 2013, to prevent the EPA from delaying Clean Water Act permits by restoring decision-making power to the states.
Member of the Congressional Coal Caucus and member of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus.

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