Issue Position: Energy

Issue Position

Energy development at home is the key to powering our nation's future. Not only is energy independence essential to our national security, but it will help create jobs for American workers. I have always advocated for an "all of the above" approach to energy. That includes development of traditional energy resources, renewable resources and even nuclear power.

As a member of Congress, I have passed two pieces of legislation out of the House that will tap American energy resources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act would streamline the permitting process for drilling in the Alaskan Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Production in the OCS could provide a million barrels of oil a day -- comparable to what we currently get from Saudi Arabia.

The other piece of legislation I have passed out of the House is the Strategic Energy Production Act, which would link a drawdown of America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to increasing access to domestic land for oil production. In the event that the SPR is tapped, my bill would trigger the Secretaries of Energy, Agriculture, and the Interior to develop a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for energy production by an amount equal to what is depleted from the nation's stockpile of oil. Currently, only three percent of federal land is leased for oil and gas production.

I promise to continue pushing for policies that will jump start energy development, create jobs, reduce litigation and achieve energy independence. It is also essential that we embrace innovation and American ingenuity within all sectors of the energy market. This will pave the way for a vibrant energy economy for future generations.

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