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Bismarck, N.D. – Congressman Rick Berg was joined today by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R – CA) at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference to promote a true all-of-the-above energy agenda.  Their press conference was held as part of the “2012 American Energy and Jobs Tour: Promoting the Economy Through American Energy” led by the House Energy Action Team (HEAT).

“North Dakota can teach the folks in Washington a thing or two about a successful energy policy,” stated Berg.  “Our national economy remains in fragile condition, and across our country family budgets and small businesses have been stretched to their limits as a result of skyrocketing gas prices.  By expanding our domestic energy production, we can promote economic growth and job creation in order to get Americans back to work, just how we have done it here in North Dakota.”

“Today, members of the House Energy Action Team spread out across the country to highlight America’s domestic energy resources and the need to increase domestic production in order to ensure both our economic security and national security,” stated McCarthy.  “Skyrocketing gas prices have compounded the challenges families and small businesses already face from slow economic growth and persistently high unemployment. America has the potential to become the largest energy producing nation in the world – which would power our economic recovery by creating hundredsofthousands of jobs right here at home.”

Just last week, North Dakota surpassed Alaska as the second-leading oil producing state in the nation.  North Dakotahas the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, 3 percent, andhas seen tremendous economic growth over the past five years due to a rapid increase in crude oil production.

Berg and McCarthy’s press conference was held in conjunction with eight other press conferences across the country with other members of the House Energy Action Team.