Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 2, American Energy Solutions For Lower Costs And More American Jobs Act; Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 4, Jobs For America Act; And Providing For Proceedings During The Period From September 22, 2014, Through November 11, 2014

Floor Speech

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 727 and ask for its immediate consideration.

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

H. Res. 727

Resolved, That upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 2) to remove Federal Government obstacles to the production of more domestic energy; to ensure transport of that energy reliably to businesses, consumers, and other end users; to lower the cost of energy to consumers; to enable manufacturers and other businesses to access domestically produced energy affordably and reliably in order to create and sustain more secure and well-paying American jobs; and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Natural Resources or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 2. Upon adoption of this resolution it shall be in order to consider in the House the bill (H.R. 4) to make revisions to Federal law to improve the conditions necessary for economic growth and job creation, and for other purposes. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. The bill shall be considered as read. All points of order against provisions in the bill are waived. The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and on any amendment thereto to final passage without intervening motion except: (1) two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means or their respective designees; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Sec. 3. On any legislative day during the period from September 22, 2014, through November 11, 2014,--

(a) the Journal of the proceedings of the previous day shall be considered as approved; and

(b) the Chair may at any time declare the House adjourned to meet at a date and time, within the limits of clause 4, section 5, article I of the Constitution, to be announced by the Chair in declaring the adjournment.

Sec. 4. The Speaker may appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the duration of the period addressed by section 3 of this resolution as though under clause 8(a) of rule I.

Sec. 5. Each day during the period addressed by section 3 of this resolution shall not constitute a calendar day for purposes of section 7 of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1546).

Sec. 6. Each day during the period addressed by section 3 of this resolution shall not constitute a legislative day for purposes of clause 7 of rule XIII.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas is recognized for 1 hour.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?

There was no objection.

Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, today, the House is considering a rule for the consideration of two bills, a package to boost America's energy production and a package to jump-start our American economy. Combined, these bills will help get America back to work with an America that we can afford.

First, the rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2, the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act.

This bill would accomplish three important goals for the American family: first, it would create up to 1.2 million good-paying jobs for Americans who are out of work or who are underemployed; second, it would lower--it would lower--energy prices in America; third, it would draw our country closer to an important goal that we should all share, and that is American energy independence.

Let's start by identifying the problem. The facts of the case are that the Federal Government is standing in the way of an American energy boom. That means they are standing in the way of American progress and progress for Americans to have jobs and a better life.

For over 6 years, the American people have waited for this administration to approve construction of the Keystone pipeline. Unfortunately, the approval process has been marred by indecision and unnecessary delays.

First, opponents of the pipeline argue that it would be an environmental disaster; since then, virtually all of the major environmental concerns surrounding the project have been not only addressed, but debugged.

Second, opponents of the pipeline argue that it was unsafe; yet study after study after study have shown the pipeline to be safe and an effective means to transport much-needed energies for America's resources.

The opponents of the Keystone pipeline have run out of excuses, but they continue to delay a decision.

Then there is the Department of Energy, which has been far too slow in approving applications to export liquefied natural gas. The Department has decided on only nine applications submitted to it for the last 4 years.

Twenty-six applications still await action--many, many of which have been delayed by this administration for purely political reasons--another reason to say they are getting in the way of Americans having jobs today. They are getting in the way of American independence for energy.

As a result of these delays, America is squandering an energy boom that could make America, which is the largest producer of natural gas, even better and add to the American economy.

The Department's broken application process destroys good-paying jobs and hampers our economic growth. The energy revolution already supports 1.7 million high-paying, great jobs in America, and we could add an additional 1.3 million new American high-paying jobs by 2020, but only if the Federal Government will get out of the way of its development.

It also allows our international competitors, such as Russia and Iran, not to be dominant in the marketplace and not to use domination for political power and economic power over other countries in Europe.

The Federal Government has ruled 87 percent of our offshore acreage currently off-limits to energy production. Even worse, the administration doesn't have a plan to develop these resources. In fact, the administration's offshore leasing plan for the next 3 years offers no new areas for lease and includes the lowest number of lease sales in history.

This administration's no new drilling policies have cost Americans jobs. We have forfeited revenue that would help us pay down our national debt and denied access to American oil and natural gas that would lessen dependence on foreign sources. More importantly, the American consumer continues to pay higher prices at the pump, nearly

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double from the time this administration took office a scant 5-plus years ago.
My friends in the minority might rightly point out that U.S. oil and natural gas production is growing; however, the growth is entirely due to increased output on State and private lands, not on Federal lands. Our growth in energy production is in spite of the Federal Government, not because of it.

Combined, these policies hurt the American people. They hurt men, women, and families who need to be able to have a stable price at the pump with energy that is available in a constant supply throughout the seasons.

High energy costs drive up prices, they limit what American families can do with their individual resources, and it is a problem in our economy. That means that the American people have less money in their pockets to buy groceries, to pay the mortgage, or to purchase school supplies for their kids.

What are the solutions to these problems? First, the energy package considered under this rule would speed up approval of the Keystone pipeline. When completed, the Keystone pipeline will transport over 800,000 barrels of oil every single day, adding to the supply.

That means that we can wean ourselves off Middle East oil. The equivalent of half of our daily imports comes from the Middle East.

Second, the bill would force the Department of Energy to issue a final decision on applications to export liquefied natural gas within 30 days of completing the environmental review process, an important step in increasing our exports of LNG and adding to the 1.3 million jobs that are awaiting filling as a result of this delay by this administration.

Third, H.R. 2 would expand oil and natural gas production in the United States by rolling back the administration's overzealous environmental policies that have slowed our economic progress and made energy too expensive.

At a time when so many Americans are unemployed and underemployed, this job-creating legislation would unleash our vast energy resources to create these 1.2 million jobs. We need them now. We need America to have stable energy prices.

In short, the bill would finally pave a way forward for energy policies that would lower energy prices, strengthen our economy, create jobs, lessen our dependence on foreign energy sources, and give the American family and worker an opportunity to have gasoline at the pump at a lesser price.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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