[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 95 (Thursday, June 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DOMESTIC ENERGY AND JOBS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                    HON. F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 20, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4480) to 
     provide for the development of a plan to increase oil and gas 
     exploration, development, and production under oil and gas 
     leases of Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy, the 
     Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense in 
     response to a drawdown of petroleum reserves from the 
     Strategic Petroleum Reserve:

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 4480, 
the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act. This important legislation brings 
together multiple domestic energy bills that seek to help jumpstart our 
economy, spur job creation, and reduce energy costs on families and 
small businesses.
  Given our slow economic recovery and high unemployment, we ought to 
do everything within our powers to ease the burdens facing Americans. 
Instead, this Administration continues to push policies that stifle job 
creation and increase uncertainty. The failed policies of the last 
three and a half years have only made a bad situation worse. Why would 
we continue to go down a path that makes it harder and harder for 
American companies to compete in a competitive global market? Energy 
costs are a major factor for companies when they are considering 
building a new facility or moving operations overseas. Let's make that 
decision easy for them and work to keep energy costs low so a U.S. 
presence is more attractive.
  Today, we have an opportunity to pass legislation that will help 
stimulate the economy, lower the costs on small businesses and put a 
few extra dollars in the pockets of hard working Americans. For too 
long, we have ignored the abundant resources here at home, leaving us 
at the mercy of OPEC and other unstable countries throughout the world. 
I found it amusing that earlier this year when gas prices rose to 
record levels, some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, 
these are the same individuals who are vehemently opposed to opening up 
production of oil and gas here in the U.S., were encouraging OPEC to 
increase oil production output. Why would we encourage OPEC to increase 
production, while doing everything in our power to severely limit 
production here at home?
  Additionally, I am pleased that this legislation makes an attempt to 
reduce the abuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to score short term 
political points by tying the release of oil to opening up federal 
lands for oil and gas production. Also, this legislation takes 
important steps to streamline the permitting process for all energy 
sources, increase transparency and accountability on EPA regulations, 
and provide for greater lease certainty.
  It is important for everyone to understand that currently only three 
percent of federal land is leased for oil and gas development. Given 
the instability in the Middle East, we must make it a priority to 
explore and develop our own natural resources. This doesn't mean that 
this has to come at the expense of our environment. The U.S. Chamber of 
Commerce has identified 351 energy projects that have been stalled by 
``not in my backyard'' suits, regulatory red tape, and endless 
challenges from environmentalists. What many may not realize is that 
almost half of these projects were for renewable energy projects. So 
this is not just an obstacle the oil and gas industry is facing. I am 
confident that we can find a way to ensure the protection of our 
environment while developing energy resources here at home, and this 
legislation is a step forward to make that possible.
  It is time we put Americans back to work, and this legislation will 
go a long way to encourage economic growth, decrease our nation's 
dependence on foreign sources of oil, and reduce the costs on hard 
working Americans. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

                          ____________________