Brett Guthrie: “Mr. Speaker, the American economy is fueled by petrochemical refineries providing affordable diesel and gasoline to…”

“Mr. Speaker, the American economy is fueled by petrochemical refineries providing affordable diesel and gasoline to families, critical inputs for our manufacturers, and products imperative for the maintenance of our defense systems. The national security component of a viable refining industry cannot be overstated, and we must not forfeit these essential supply chains. Under the previous administration, we saw the impact of an energy retreat: higher prices for families and businesses, emboldened adversaries, sluggish economies, and increasing reliance on other nations. Unfortunately, this is still the case in States like California, where a hostile regulatory environment has forced refineries to reduce operations. In fact, the Golden State is expected to lose 17 percent of its capacity in the next year. This has led to an average gasoline price of nearly $5 per gallon, an increased fuel dependence on Asian producers, and jeopardizing the fuel supply chain of military installations in their State. We must not let this become status quo across the country.”