Jay Obernolte: “My constituents already pay amongst the highest prices for energy in the entire country and yet, this winter, their…”

“My constituents already pay amongst the highest prices for energy in the entire country and yet, this winter, their suffering is particularly acute because some of them are being forced to pay over twice as much to heat their homes as they were just a year ago. One of the primary drivers of this spike in energy prices is the policies of our own Federal Government which actively restrict the production of energy in America. Any economist will tell you that when that supply is constrained, prices go up and, Mr. Chairman, that is exactly what is occurring this winter. This bill, H.R. 21, will make a meaningful contribution to fixing that problem by requiring the Federal Government to permit new energy exploration at least sufficient to replace the petroleum that is being released from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Mr. Chairman, it is unconscionable to force my constituents to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table for their families, and this is exactly what has been happening for the thousands of people that I represent. This bill is a meaningful step toward solving that problem and will improve the lives of people across our country, and I urge its adoption.”