Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

From conventional resources like oil and natural gas to renewable resources like wind and solar, Texas' energy sector is powering our homes, fueling our vehicles, and driving our nation's economy. I support an all-of-the-above approach that moves America towards energy independence.

Our nation currently depends on foreign countries to supply over half of the oil we consume, which allows our economic competitors to dictate the price of energy in our country and weakens our national and economic security.

To achieve energy independence, we must work to develop viable forms of renewable energy while continuing to develop the conventional energy resources we have at home. By developing a diverse domestic energy portfolio in this way, we can create jobs, grow our economy, and decrease our reliance on foreign oil.

Keystone XL Pipeline

Many of my constituents have reached out about the Keystone XL pipeline. If constructed, the pipeline gives us the ability to transport 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada through Texas to the Gulf Coast. The benefits this pipeline would have on Texas would be enormous. In fact, if this project is approved, it would create over 42,000 jobs, including a number in Texas.

The White House must grant the Keystone XL pipeline approval before construction may begin. As part of the approval process, the State Department was required to review the potential environmental impact of the pipeline. The State Department completed this review and found that the pipeline would not significantly impact the environment. Despite these findings, the White House has chosen to indefinitely delay any decision regarding the pipeline's approval.

The American people strongly support the Keystone XL pipeline, and further delaying approval of the pipeline is not acceptable. Building the pipeline would help decrease our reliance on Middle East oil and create thousands of new American jobs. I am a strong supporter of the Keystone XL pipeline and was proud to have cosponsored the Northern Route Approval Act (H.R.3) last Congress. This bill would have allowed the pipeline's construction to move forward and ended years of unnecessary delays.

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