All-Of-The-Above Energy Policy

Floor Speech

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, we live in a country that is truly blessed with an abundant array of energy resources, yet despite major advances in technology in recent years that are allowing us to access even more of these energy resources, our country is sadly failing to take advantage of these opportunities and is imposing higher costs on all Americans.

My constituents and people across the country continue to struggle to keep up with high energy prices. With an average price of nearly $4 for a gallon of gas in Michigan, middle class families in my district can't understand why the Federal Government can't get serious about developing an all-of-the-above energy policy.

For the past few years, House Republicans have been pursuing an all-of-the-above energy strategy. We understand that developing our resources at home won't only lower energy costs, but it will grow good paying American jobs and ease the squeeze on the middle class.

The House has taken action to immediately ease that pain. In February, we passed H.R. 3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act, to put a check on the President's and the EPA's misuse of the Clean Air Act in pursuit of cap-and-trade.

In March, we passed H.R. 2824, the Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Act, which would protect coal mining from unnecessary, harmful, and useless Federal regulation. We need the resources, and our people need these jobs.

The House will continue standing up for the American people and against the President's plans to increase utility costs. This week, I proudly cosponsored H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, a bill introduced by Chairman Upton of the Energy and Commerce Committee, that will remove redtape that interferes with our ability to build the necessary infrastructure to move North American energy where it is needed most.

I expect the House will soon consider H.R. 3301 and a number of other bills that will lessen the squeeze of high energy prices, while protecting and creating new energy jobs that will grow a healthy economy and form a framework for all of our middle class and a real all-of-the-above energy plan.

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