Energy
An “all of the above” approach to energy issues is what’s needed in a changing world. Oil and gas power the world. That’s reality. So, any change in how our energy demands are met needs to be market-driven and not dictated by Washington bureaucrats. Texas is a major oil and gas producer but we’re also number one in wind energy, for example. That innovation was brought about by free market thinking, not big government intervention.
September 9th, 2014
How does one increase the minimum wage? There are two ways: the inefficient and destructive way or allowing the market to work. The first is what most politicians do routinely by pushing for laws to raise the minimum wage...
August 22nd, 2014
A headline that wind power requires 700 times the land space to produce the same amount of energy than fracked produced natural gas grabbed my attention. This headline sums up the problem with much of the alternative sources...
August 7th, 2014
The following was written by Congressman Joe Barton (TX-6):America’s new found energy abundance creates incredible opportunities, but old laws are getting in the way of economic growth and the chance to strengthen...
July 5th, 2014
Right now, our country is in the middle of an unprecedented energy boom—since 2008, domestic oil production has risen by more than 66 percent. Technological advances and new discoveries have made American energy independence...
May 9th, 2014
Two weeks ago, I traveled to Ukraine. It was a sobering experience as I saw firsthand the situation on the ground. Our country must do more to let our friends in the Ukraine know that we support them and want to help protect...
May 2nd, 2014
Today, I released the following statement regarding the April unemployment report:While today's report is good news for those who were able to find work, there is more that can be done to give the American people the robust...
April 8th, 2014
The recent uptick in American energy production is one of those economic miracles not thought possible a decade ago. Oil and gas production will reduce the United States' dependence on imports, and we may be become an energy...
March 27th, 2014
The Napoleon of Siberia, Putin, controls Ukraine and other European countries by holding their energy needs hostage. Russia uses gas as a political and economic weapon to manipulate its neighbors.This does not have to be,...
March 18th, 2014
The Ukrainian people—like all people across the globe—deserve to choose their own government, and determine their own future. Russia’s escalating intervention in Ukraine is an insult to Ukraine’s sovereignty and to the...
March 10th, 2014
Vladimir Putin invaded Georgia. Now, the Russian bear is after Ukraine.Ukraine is almost totally dependent on Russia for energy. Russian imperialism has proven that it is willing to use gas as a political and economic weapon...
August 29th, 2014
It’s back to school time and last week as I dropped my daughter Caroline off at her first day of first grade, I remembered the excitement that a new school year brings.I wanted to give a message to our students: seize the...
August 12th, 2014
HOUSTON, Texas — Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a new law reforming the nation’s energy industry. It is expected this new law will bring in billions of dollars in investments to expand oil and natural gas...
July 6th, 2014
Five years ago, companies were building terminals to import natural gas at the cost of billions of dollars because analysts agreed that the United States' economy was going to need natural gas from overseas. Today that...
June 27th, 2014
The House passed three pieces of legislation this week - H.R. 6, The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act H.R. 3301, the, North American Energy Infrastructure Act and Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America that...
May 2nd, 2014
Railroad Commissioner candidate Ryan Sitton's campaign recently released poll numbers showing him in a strong position to win the May 27th runoff election. The poll conducted in April 2014 by Baselice & Associates...
April 21st, 2014
With the success of Obama’s green energy policy, why not have another round of blood-letting for the American taxpayers. After all, in what is obvious crony capitalism and campaign donation payoffs, Obama figures if we haven...
March 28th, 2014
Today, I issued the following statement on H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act, which passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation includes both sanctions against Russia and support measures for...
March 25th, 2014
Sometimes it takes a sudden, flagrant breach of the international order to dispel a president’s naïveté about a foreign adversary. The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had that effect on President Carter. One can only...
March 12th, 2014
"We eat all we can and we sell the rest.'' That is the slogan for the Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham, Texas, that makes the best ice cream in the world. With the U.S. overabundance of natural gas, especially in Texas, that...
March 7th, 2014
Economic growth depends on job creators, not federal regulators. We need to increase access to affordable energy, not take energy options off the table. By requiring carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology that doesn’t...