Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (June 26, 2014) – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of bills that will further America’s energy independence, create jobs, increase critical energy infrastructure development, and lower electric rates for hardworking Americans across the country.

Congressional Western Caucus Co-Chairs Steve Pearce (NM-02) and Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large), and Western Caucus members Doc Hastings (WA-4) and Cory Gardner (CO-04) released the following statements in response to the passage of H.R. 3301, H.R. 6, and H.R. 4899:

“Energy production is the one of the few bright spots in an otherwise stagnant economy under this administration,” said Chairman Pearce.  “America’s energy boom is not only responsible for creating hundreds of thousands of direct jobs; it is bringing back American manufacturing and is partially responsible for economic development all over the country. Despite these strides, the Obama administration has worked to slow energy development and its subsequent job creation at every turn. Our country is blessed with abundant natural resources and we must continue to develop them in a responsible manner to strengthen our economy and relieve the middle class of the financial burden created by this administration’s policies.”

“The bills passed this week are essential to increasing North America’s energy independence and creating middle class jobs,” continued Pearce.  “I urge the Senate to stop denying Americans good paying jobs and affordable electricity by taking action on these critical pieces of legislation.”

“America is sitting on abundant energy resources and the ingenuity to develop them so that Americans get maximum relief at the pump and when they turn their lights on,” said Chairman Lummis.  “America is poised to be a global energy leader with the resources to control our own energy destiny. But instead of finding a willing partner in the White House, this Administration is bent on blocking our energy potential, especially on our multiple use public lands that right now are not being managed by the federal government in the public’s interest. The bills we passed this week will produce local jobs, grow our economy, and help realize our nation’s potential as a global energy superpower.”

“Right now, American families and small businesses are feeling the squeeze of high gasoline prices, which are a drain to our entire economy. Since President Obama took office, gasoline prices have doubled and our federal energy resources have been put under tight lock-and-key. The passage of this bipartisan common sense plan is a bold step forward to unlocking America’s energy resources that will create over one million new American jobs, strengthen national security, improve our economy, and help ease the pain at the pump for every American,” said Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04).

“I’m glad to see H.R. 6 pass with such overwhelming bipartisan support,” said Congressman Gardner. “This legislation will provide our allies with access to a much needed resource that is abundant in the United States, and it will create tens of thousands of jobs for hardworking Americans here at home. By passing this legislation, we are sending a clear signal to the world that the United States is serious about becoming a key player in the global energy market.”

H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act passed by a vote of 238-173. This legislation expedites the permitting process for oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and electric transmission lines.

H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, sponsored by Western Caucus member Representative Cory Gardner, passed by a vote of 266-150. This legislation will increase American liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to our allies by expediting the approval process for LNG export facilities.

H.R. 4899, the Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America that Works Act, sponsored by Western Caucus member and Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Doc Hastings, passed by a vote of 229-185. This legislation would lower gas prices and increase America’s energy independence by increasing production of America’s energy resources.