[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17583]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                FRACKING

  (Mr. WILLIAMS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2728, the Protecting States' Rights 
to Promote American Energy Security Act, is a commonsense bill that 
promotes energy independence, protects jobs, and preserves states' 
rights.
  The 25th District of Texas contains the Barnett Shale, a major job 
creator, energy provider, and economic driver in the oil and gas 
industry. Reports this month showed that 825 out of the 1,762 active 
rigs in the United States are located throughout the State of Texas. 
That is almost half the Nation's active drilling rigs.
  The shale oil boom in Texas contributes to our Nation's overall 
ability to cut reliance on foreign oil and get one step closer to 
energy independence. I will tell you one thing that can stop this 
progress dead in its tracks, however, and that is red tape and Federal 
bureaucracy.
  For 60 years, States have regulated their own hydraulic fracturing 
operations, but the Obama administration is attempting to step in and 
add duplicative and costly regulations. For example, on average, it 
takes a State 30 days to approve permits for drilling. The Federal 
Government's Bureau of Land Management takes an average of 228 days.
  Subjecting States to this is senseless, harmful, and unnecessary. 
H.R. 2728 will prevent this and many other destructive regulations from 
stifling energy production and job creation.

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