In House floor speech, Jacobs calls for more domestic energy production

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) delivered a floor speech last night calling for the White House to reverse its anti-American production policies and allow for the domestic energy industry to be unleashed.

Remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the millions of Americans who are facing pain at the pump around our nation.

On his first day in office, President Biden signaled to the world that American energy independence was no longer a priority. He canceled the Keystone XL pipeline.

He made regulatory changes to make new domestic production incredibly punitive. And he put a moratorium on new drilling on federal lands.

The President’s actions set the high prices we are seeing today in motion. Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, Americans were getting squeezed by the inflationary tax caused by careless and unrealistic policymaking.

In fact, the national average for a gallon of gasoline had risen over a dollar in the year before Russia took this malign action. International events have sent prices higher in the past week, but the administration cannot hide from the fact their policies have amplified this financial pain.

The solution to this crisis is clear – American production and energy independence are the best protections we have at our disposal. The President must reverse the course of his administration immediately – and allow for the full force of the US energy industry to be unleashed in Americans’ time of need.

Banning Russian oil imports out of principle is one thing, but it rings of hypocrisy when the administration turns around and immediately begins negotiating with vile dictators in Iran and Venezuela.

This solution is no better, and simply expands our dependence on hostile foreign nations for our economic and national security.

Mr. Speaker – perhaps the administration does not want to admit their early anti-energy moves were wrong – but American energy and financial security cannot hinge on the egos of the President and his staff.

It’s time to get out of the way of American production, allow our producers to increase capacity, and deliver affordable energy to the American people free of malign influence.

Our future prosperity depends upon it.”