Bill Flores: “I thank Chairman Calvert for his hard work on this section of the appropriations bill. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong…”

“I thank Chairman Calvert for his hard work on this section of the appropriations bill. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment. American consumers have benefited from low energy prices, thanks to the American energy revolution and technological advancements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. For decades, hydraulic fracturing has been successfully regulated by the States. In 2013, the House passed on a bipartisan basis legislation which I coauthored with the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) from the other side of the aisle, and that legislation would stop the BLM from pursuing duplicative and burdensome hydraulic fracturing regulations. Unfortunately, the BLM didn't listen to what Congress said, and it continued down a path to impose additional red tape on American energy development and to further drive down energy production on energy lands while State and private production continues to experience record growth in a safe and efficient manner. This has always been a solution in search of a problem, particularly when the EPA and the Department of Energy have each agreed that hydraulic fracturing is being conducted safely right now. Even the courts agree that there are problems with the BLM's rules, as evidenced by the recent stay granted by the U.S. District Court of Wyoming to stop the BLM from moving forward with their overreaching regulatory activity. This amendment is bad for jobs.…”