Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11), and Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) hosted a West Texas Energy and Agriculture Field Tour throughout Texas’ 19th and 11th Congressional Districts.
 
“The Western Caucus is one of the most influential coalitions in Congress, and it is field tours like this – hearing directly from folks in West Texas – that help us work effectively on behalf of rural America,” said Chairman Newhouse. “We learned how the hardworking men and women of Texas’ agriculture and energy industries are leading in innovation and working as exemplary stewards of our land to feed the world and fuel our nation. West Texas couldn’t have stronger representatives than Congressmen Arrington and Pfluger, and I’m grateful to them for inviting Western Caucus Members to their districts to see this firsthand.”
 
“I was proud to host my fellow Western Caucus Members and highlight how important West Texas is to our nation’s food security and energy independence,” said Rep. Arrington. “West Texas and rural America isn’t just our country’s breadbasket and energy basin, it’s the backbone of America’s traditional values of faith, family, hard work, and common sense. I also want West Texans to know and be encouraged that there are other Members of Congress fighting for our values and interests in Washington.”
 
“West Texas’ abundant energy and agriculture production make our region essential to American national security,” said Rep. Pfluger. “It was an honor to host Western Caucus Members from around the country to learn what we do to feed, clothe, and power not only this country, but the world. This visit allowed them to see first-hand why we must put Midland over Moscow, promote American energy dominance, and continue supporting our farmers and ranchers.”
 
Reps. Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), Jason Smith (MO-08), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Fred Keller (PA-12), and Ronny Jackson (TX-13) joined the tour, traveling from Lubbock to Midland to meet with farmers, ranchers, and energy producers who are working to provide the food, fuel, and fiber America needs.

They toured Texas Tech University’s Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, visited with students and faculty from the Department of Meat Sciences, and met with rural healthcare leaders. They met with agriculture producers who discussed the challenges they face – from labor shortages to drought and natural disaster – and their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. The Members visited Continental Dairy’s Littlefield facility and a feedyard to learn how communities in West Texas are contributing to our nation’s dairy supply chain.
 
They then hosted a roundtable for Texas oil and gas producers where they heard about the innovative solutions companies are using to reduce carbon emissions while strengthening American energy security. Lastly, the Members toured an oil and gas rig, as well as a frac site, to see firsthand how the men and women of the Permian Basin are leading the world in energy production.
 
Background:
 
Last year, both Reps. Arrington and Pfluger joined Chairman Newhouse on the “A Voice for Rural America” podcast to discuss West Texas’ agriculture and energy industries.

• Rep. Arrington and Tom Sell of the Southwest Council of Agribusiness joined to discuss how Rep. Arrington is working to showcase the priorities and challenges of rural America. Click here to listen.
• Rep. Pfluger and Permian Basin Petroleum Association Vice President Stephen Robertson joined to discuss how the Endangered Species Act impacts rural communities, economies, agriculture, and energy development. Click here to listen.