House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s State of the Union Address:
“For a strong state of the union, I urge the President to make restoring U.S. energy dominance his top priority. For America to be a diplomatic power, we must be a military power. To be a military power, America must be an economic power. It’s all connected, and energy is foundational to it all.
“It’s now clearer than ever what is at stake when a rush-to-green agenda and anti-American energy policies make us and Europe more dependent on Russian oil and natural gas.
“To flip the switch on American energy and bolster our energy security, the House must take action on the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. It’s how we crush Putin’s war chest, restore our energy dominance, stand by Ukraine and our allies, and create jobs here at home.
“We also know that Russia poses a very serious cyber threat to our critical infrastructure, including our pipelines and electrical grid. That is why the Energy and Commerce Committee is leading to ensure expert agencies, like the Department of Energy, are equipped and prepared to protect our energy infrastructure, which is central to our economy and our way of life.”
NOTE: Today, Leader Rodgers urged for the House to take immediate action on her legislation with Committee on Natural Resources Republican Leader Bruce Westerman (R-AR), the American Energy Independence from Russia Act.
The American Energy from Independence from Russia Act:
- Immediately approves the Keystone XL pipeline
- Removes all restrictions on liquified natural gas (LNG) exports
- Restarts oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters – which was halted by the Biden administration
- Protects American energy and mineral development from attacks by the Biden administration
- Requires Biden to submit an energy security plan within 30 days and requires the Secretary of Energy to develop a plan to replace oil drawn down from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Russia’s economy is entirely dependent upon energy production and exports. Putin uses energy and pipelines as weapons, threatening to cut off supplies or hike prices when the West confronts Russia’s aggression. Russia’s energy exports fund its military and its current attack on Ukraine.
“America, not Russia, is the world’s number one energy producer. We should act like it and lead.”
CLICK HERE to read more of Leader Rodgers’ remarks.
