We have an energy crisis in America
because we still import about 62 percent
of our crude oil.

Even as a member of the Energy and

Commerce Committee, it’s difficult to get

members of Congress to change from

their “it can wait until tomorrow”

philosophy on true energy reform.

Well, I’m not giving up.

For example, if President Clinton hadn’t

vetoed legislation containing permission

to drill in ANWR in 1995, we would be

using that domestically produced oil today

and gasoline prices would be about 40 cents

less per gallon.

We’ve reversed his poor decision recently
in the House, but it will take years to recover
from it and get that oil in the pipelines. We
also need to expand our refining capacity.

We haven’t built a new American refinery
since the 1970’s and Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita took out nine of the existing plants.

My plan is for the first new one to be built in
Cushing. I take our energy situation very
seriously and I’m working 365 to get my fellow

members of Congress to wake up.