Political Quotes

“this morning I discussed two amendments that I have submitted in regard to the current energy legislation, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015. I would like to talk about a third amendment that I submitted as well. The amendment actually follows legislation that I introduced earlier entitled the ``empower States amendment.'' Essentially what the ``empower States'' legislation does is it ensures that States retain the right to manage oil and gas production in their respective State. It gives them the ability to develop hydraulic fracturing rules and to respond first to any violation that might occur, rather than having a Federal one-size-fits-all approach. This is very important, because how we produce oil and gas in States such as North Dakota is very different than how we might produce oil and gas in a State like Louisiana, for example, or some other State. So States have to have the flexibility to respond to their industry to provide regulatory certainty and to empower that investment that will help us produce more energy and do it with good environmental stewardship. This amendment also allows States to regulate oil and gas development on Bureau of Land Management lands if the State has laws and regulations in place to protect both public health and the environment. As I said, it takes a States-first approach because individual States are the first and best responders to oil and gas issues.…”