[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 165 (Thursday, November 5, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1609-E1610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HIRE MORE HEROES ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 22) to amend 
     the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt employees with 
     health coverage under TRICARE or the Veterans Administration 
     from being taken into account for purposes of determining the 
     employers to which the employer mandate applies under the 
     Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the 
amendment.
  Today, the United States is awash in domestically produced natural 
gas.
  The Energy Information Agency (ETA) estimates that the U.S. has more 
than 354 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves.
  In Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and most importantly, Texas, we 
increased production by more than 4.2 billion cubic feet per day.
  While I am a big supporter of LNG exports, I also firmly believe we 
should consume as much natural gas here at home as possible.
  Natural gas has transformed our power sector.
  Today, for the first time in history, we use more natural gas for 
power production than coal.
  Natural gas is expected to fulfill almost 40% of our power needs in 
the coming decades.
  Our producers have become so efficient, Henry Hub prices sit at 
approximately $2.89 per BCF.
  We should drive demand for natural gas by encouraging natural gas 
vehicles.
  Our corporate and government fleets as well as our public 
transportation vehicles all run on natural gas but the largest segment 
of the market resides in personal vehicles.
  If we increase demand, we will resolve any environmental issues 
related to natural gas production.
  First, producers will reduce natural gas flaring because that product 
will have a market.
  Second, natural gas burns cleaner than gasoline which reduces carbon 
emissions.

[[Page E1610]]

  The EPA is tasked with protecting the environment and natural gas 
vehicles deserve the same opportunities as electric vehicles.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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