Sam Graves: My blueprint for U. S. energy independence

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

The price of gas is going up—again.

In case you haven’t heard the news or seen the prices climb at your local gas station yet, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) just announced they’re cutting back oil production by 2 million barrels a day. In other words, President Biden’s attempt to beg Iran, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia to pump more oil backfired, big time. And now, American families are going to have to pay the price.

It doesn’t have to be like this. America has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources. We have the 9th largest proven oil reserves in the world and almost a billion acres of the best farmland on the planet. We have the ability—through drilling and biofuel production—to be energy independent. We don’t have to beg foreign cartels to pump more oil—so why are we?

The Administration has been waging a war on American energy production. They’ve been denying permits, blocking pipeline projects, and undercutting American biofuels. Instead of working to increase American energy production, they’ve done everything they can to stop American energy production and make us more reliant on OPEC. They’ve done all of this because they think it’s better for the environment. It isn’t and it doesn’t have to be this way.

It shouldn’t matter who is in the White House, this country needs to be energy independent. That’s why I introduced my blueprint for American energy independence with Congressman Bruce Westerman of Arkansas. The TAP American Energy Act would cut through all the red tape holding back American energy production, mandate the President move forward with new drilling leases, and put an end to all this nonsense once and for all.

Our energy independence is far too important to be left to the whims of whoever is in the White House. We need clear and concise laws that put the American people first. We need to be energy independent to protect American jobs and keep the price of gas in this country affordable.

That’s the only way we’re going to see some sanity return to prices at the pump. We have to control our own destiny from here on out.