Debbie Lesko: “My amendment would require the Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Department of Defense, to report on…”

“My amendment would require the Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Department of Defense, to report on whether the policies of this bill would put our national security at risk. There are many reasons to support domestic energy production, many reasons to oppose the bans this bill proposes, but I believe chief among them is that harnessing the natural resources our country has been blessed with makes our Nation and our allies safer. American energy production makes us less reliant on foreign actors. More American oil means we will less likely have to use Saudi Arabian oil. More American natural gas means our allies are less likely to rely on Russian natural gas. Our homes, factories, and vehicles need energy. Our allies need energy. As our world grows, so will our demand. Oil and natural gas are estimated to comprise 60 percent of global demand in 2050. The question is, where will the United States get it? Will we take it from our own shores, or will we rely on OPEC, whose Arab petroleum-exporting countries previously stopped oil shipments to the United States and caused gas prices to soar and threatened our national security. I support an all-of-the-above approach, which includes solar, wind, hydropower, nuclear, and coal. I also support domestic oil and natural gas. I believe an all-of-the-above energy approach benefits American pocketbooks and quality of life and, especially, our security. Mr.…”