Rep. Roy Leads a Dozen Colleagues in Letter Urging Governor Abbott to Continue the Fight for Texas Energy Independence

On Wednesday, I, along with 12 House Republican colleagues from the Texas congressional delegation, sent a letter to Governor Abbott commending him for challenging federal action that threatens the American energy sector and enjoining him to keep up the fight.

After outlining how the Biden Administration’s reckless and unilateral actions will harm energy independence, affordability and jobs, the letter encourages Governor Abbott to stand strong for Texas’ 10th Amendment powers and to keep pushing back against attempted federal overreach.

“We support your efforts and encourage you and the entire Texas Legislature to continue to hold the line against the dangerous and irresponsible federal action. The Biden Administration is using unelected bureaucrats to consolidate power in a federal city 2,000 miles away from the dome of our State Capitol,” the letter reads.

“As the American leader in energy production and innovation, Texas needs to maintain primacy and hold the line against federal overreach,” the letter adds. It concludes, “We therefore urge you to continue your history of affirming and defending the 10th Amendment and remind the federal bureaucrats and politicians in Washington encroaching on our State’s affairs, ‘[t]he powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.’”

Cosigners to the letter are: Reps. Jodey C. Arrington,  Dan Crenshaw,  Randy K. Weber,  Louie Gohmert,  Michael Cloud,  Ronny Jackson,  Michael McCaul,  Lance Gooden,  Brian Babin, D.D.S,  Roger Williams, and  Pat Fallon.

Full text of the letter and a list of cosigners are available at the link here and below:

Governor Greg Abbott
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428

Dear Governor Abbott,

Thank you for recent Executive Order No. GA-33, directing the state to use all lawful powers and tools to challenge any federal action that threatens the continued strength, vitality, and independence of the energy industry.

We support your efforts and encourage you and the entire Texas Legislature to continue to hold the line against the dangerous and irresponsible federal action. The Biden Administration is using unelected bureaucrats to consolidate power in a federal city 2,000 miles away from the dome of our State Capitol.

In just a few weeks, that Administration has rejoined the Paris Climate Accord, cancelled the Keystone XL Pipeline, reinstated Obama-era climate regulations, and is now moving to ban all drilling on federal lands and water.

As the American leader in energy production and innovation, Texas needs to maintain primacy and hold the line against federal overreach. Millions of Texans depend on the economic opportunities and security provided by a thriving energy industry. For our part, we will work unceasingly to shape policy within our Congressional Delegation and want to work alongside you in that process. However, we cannot expect to stop this impending onslaught alone.

The Lone Star State stands as a shining example for others within the Union in the defense of liberty and responsible governance, and we are optimistic Texas will continue that legacy.

We therefore urge you to continue your history of affirming and defending the 10th Amendment and remind the federal bureaucrats and politicians in Washington encroaching on our State’s affairs, “[t]he powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

America is great. Washington is broken. We offer our support to protect Texas from the long arm of Washington and may God continue to bless the State of Texas through your work.

Sincerely,

Chip Roy
Member of Congress

Jodey C. Arrington 
Member of Congress

Dan Crenshaw 
Member of Congress

Randy K. Weber 
Member of Congress

Louie Gohmert 
Member of Congress

Michael Cloud 
Member of Congress

Ronny Jackson 
Member of Congress

Michael McCaul 
Member of Congress

Lance Gooden 
Member of Congress

Brian Babin, D.D.S 
Member of Congress

Roger Williams
Member of Congress

Pat Fallon
Member of Congress