Issue OverviewThe United States has seen a resurgence of onshore energy production in recent years, thanks to cutting-edge technologies pioneered by the American oil and natural gas industry. This has brought about an entirely new energy paradigm, jumpstarting our nation’s economy and strengthening our global presence abroad. Right now, the United States is set to be the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world, reducing our dependency on unstable and hostile countries for our energy needs. In 2005, about 60 percent of the petroleum consumed by the United States was imported from foreign countries. In 2014, that number fell to 27 percent. This energy renaissance has also lowered energy prices for the American people, allowing them to save more and spend more money supporting their families.However, heavy-handed regulations from the Obama Administration threaten this energy renaissance. Currently, the vast majority of production—83%—is on state and private lands, where the federal government has less control. The effect of federal policies, regulations and lengthy permitting processes is to discourage producers from exploring on federal land, which means much lower revenues for the American taxpayers and stunted growth for local economies. Additionally, the nation’s energy infrastructure lags far behind recent development gains. The Committee is developing solutions to expand responsible energy development opportunities and bridge America’s energy infrastructure gap. Key LegislationH.R. 2295 – National Energy Security Corridors Act Introduced by Rep. Thomas MacArthur (R-NJ), H.R. 2295 establishes National Energy Security Corridors and streamlines the rights-of-way approval process for natural gas pipelines across federal lands. The bill answers the President’s call for an updated infrastructure that meets our nation’s energy supply, including the designation of energy corridors across the U.S. It supports job creation, safe transportation of important energy resources, and lower costs for consumers, especially those on the East Coast. Learn more >> |
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