Press Releases

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) and Caucus Members Rep. Pete Sessions (TX-32), Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), and Rep. Lamar Smith (TX-21) issued the following statements in response to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Nomination Hearing for President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Department of the Energy, Governor Rick Perry:

“Today’s hearing showcased the true leadership and innovative approach that Governor Perry brought to his service to the State of Texas and I am excited to see that same enthusiasm brought to the Department of Energy. He is dedicated to providing stable, reliable, and affordable sources of energy to our nation using an all-of-the-above approach, and I look forward to his commonsense solutions to the issues our energy sector faces across the board,” said Chairman Gosar.

Rep. Sessions remarked, “Governor Perry is an exemplary leader who made an immense impact in our great state of Texas. I wholeheartedly support Governor Perry for this position and have the utmost confidence that he will thrive in this new role.”

“I congratulate Gov. Rick Perry, the successful former governor of one our largest and most energy-focused states, on his selection as the next Secretary of Energy. I have already invited Gov. Perry to tour the Hanford site in Central Washington, one of the DOE’s largest and most complex defense nuclear cleanup sites. Central Washington is home to DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), which conducts ground breaking scientific research and development. I look forward to working with Gov. Perry when he leads the Department of Energy to focus on the federal responsibility to clean up Hanford and support the mission of PNNL” said Rep. Newhouse.

“Former Governor Perry will bring a new and welcomed perspective as Secretary of Energy. His experience running an all of the above energy state with an economy that ranks 12th in the world speaks to the expertise he will bring to the job. I look forward to working with him and the Trump administration to prioritize basic research at DOE and develop less costly energy for the American people,” said Rep. Smith.

Background:

The purpose of today’s Senate hearing was to consider the nomination of Governor Rick Perry to be the Secretary of Energy.

An archived website of the hearing can be found by clicking HERE.

If confirmed, Governor Perry will be the 14^th Secretary of the United States Department of Energy.

###