Joe Barton

Is it not true there literally is an escrow account in Texas with $30 million in it that they wish to send to the Federal Government?

I rise in strong support of the gentleman's amendment. I think it is absolutely the right thing to do. It is pure common sense. As you know, these newer bulbs, while they may be more energy efficient, they are much more expensive. I have…

I had offered an amendment for the Record that was a very specific amendment, and I am going to read that: The Secretary shall accept from the Trinity River Authority of Texas, if received by October 31, 2015, $30,191,026 as payment in…

I have introduced a bill that would repeal the current ban on crude oil exports.

I support the three bills that we are having the hearing on. I think they are all reformative, and I think they are positive, and they are transparent; and I think the more of that the better.

I support these three bills. I would hope, Mr. Chairman, that you would change your mind.

I want to compliment you and all the people that have worked on it. I am extremely pleased with what is in the draft.

Well, I am certainly not opposed to there being a review of biomedical research, but in my opinion, to create a brand new group doesn't make sense...

I am pleased that we are beginning our discussions with an area I believe we can all embrace and that is jobs and the economy.

This is a win-win. It is a win for the consumer. It is a win for the producer.

If we were to repeal the ban on crude oil exports, we would allow U.S. producers to sell their oil to any willing buyer whether it was domestic or foreign.

U.S. oil production is increasing. It is over 10 million barrels a day and going up at least for the time being.

The only certainty would be that electricity rates would go, reliability would go down, and there would be routine blackouts.

This is not a health-based rule. It is not a rule based on a real economic science.

There is absolutely no health benefit to this proposal.

My bill is a very simple bill. It is a page long. It repeals the ban on crude oil exports that was first established back in 1975.

If we repeal the ban, Mr. Chairman, on crude oil exports that discount disappears.

This is government-supported addiction. It is not moving people to sobriety.

Why is the government subsidizing this harm?

I think that is a good thing. I believe in states' rights.

We have to shut down 45 percent of our existing coal-fired power plants; two of which are in my old congressional district.

I believe in states' rights. New York doesn't want to allow hydraulic fracturing, so they don't.

The EPA has a right to set a national standard in interstate commerce to protect public health.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Without being able to export a finished product--mostly diesel too, some gasoline, but mostly diesel--we are able to keep those refineries up and running, and that is a national security thing.