Westmoreland: Improving Energy Security Before It's Too Late

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the House amendment to S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016. The Energy Policy Modernization Act protects and grows the United States' energy sector by advancing energy infrastructure development, modernization, and protection. The legislation also enhances domestic energy security, as well as promotes energy efficiency and government accountability. U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland supported this legislation and issued the following statement:

"The U.S. energy sector is facing challenges we have never seen before," stated Westmoreland. "These challenges arise from foreign threats and new burdensome regulations by the Obama Administration that, if left untouched, can have a huge impact on our national security. We need our nation's energy policies to reflect the current, and ever-evolving, energy landscape."

There are 37 House-passed pieces of legislation rolled into the Energy Policy Modernization Act. Key legislation includes:

H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act
This bill would revise the approval procedure for U.S. energy exports such as natural gas. It would also increase security of the electric grid.
H.R. 1937, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act
This bill aims to increase the development efficiency of critical minerals in the United States by setting new requirements for the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior. It enhances domestic energy security and promotes American-made energy.
Title XXXIII (Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities) of H.R. 4909, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017
Reauthorizes certain Department of Energy nuclear programs which include nuclear infrastructure, maintenance, research, and security programs.

"Improving our energy infrastructure - such as nuclear reactors and natural gas pipelines- can have a dramatic effect on minimizing the impact of an attack on our energy grid, while helping make our nation more independent and secure," continued Westmoreland. "The Energy Policy Modernization Act does just that: it increases domestic energy security, improves energy infrastructure and holds the government more accountable for the rules and regulations put in place by the Obama Administration. It's time we face these challenges head-on, before it's too late."

Rep. Westmoreland serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on NSA and Cybersecurity for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

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