On Wednesday, Ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) announced that they would cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day, their largest reduction in oil output since the start of the pandemic, in a move that has already caused oil prices to increase to nearly $94 per barrel. This move follows President Biden's recent trip to Saudi Arabia, in which he asked the country to increase its oil output after calling the Kingdom a "pariah."  

On day one of Joe Biden's presidency, he launched his war on American energy when he killed the Keystone XL pipeline, which could have been supplying 830,000 barrels per day of oil from Canada to U.S. refineries. Over the last two years, President Biden and House Democrats' America Last energy policy has created skyrocketing energy costs and increased our dependence on other countries. 

Joe Biden continues to drain our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Next month, they will deliver another 10 million barrels from the SPR to the market. Let me make it clear, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is meant for weather events or national security emergencies, is now at its lowest point since 1984 because of President Biden. While Americans struggle with an energy crisis, the Biden administration continues to drain our SPR for political gain and threaten our national security. President Biden has leased fewer acres of federal and offshore land for domestic oil and gas production at this point in his presidency than any other president since the end of World War II.

We should be prioritizing Texans before Tyrants. In Texas, we can easily produce enough oil. So instead of begging other countries for oil, Joe Biden should be looking at a state like Texas. 

Did you know: Around 60 percent of the crude oil stored in the SPR resides in two sites in Texas' 14th Congressional District: Bryan Mound in Freeport and Big Hill near Winnie, making this issue extremely close to home.

Not long ago, America was the largest energy producer in the world and gas was affordable. The Biden Administration then halted energy projects, shut down pipeline construction, and took every step to discourage the production of American energy resources. Americans shouldn’t have to choose between driving to work and putting food on the table.

The House Republicans have a plan to regain American energy independence and lower prices at the pump:

• Maximize production of reliable, American-made energy.

• Cut the permitting process time in half to reduce reliance on foreign countries, prevent rolling blackouts, and lower the cost of gas and utilities.

One bill that will unleash American energy that is represented in our Commitment to America is the American Energy Independence from Russia Act. 

This comprehensive energy legislation would ensure the production of domestic energy resources. The bill requires the President to submit an energy security plan within 30 days to act to unleash American oil and natural gas production to offset Russian imports. It approves the KeystoneXL Pipeline; streamlines permitting for U.S. LNG import/export facilities; requires congressional approval before (a) prohibiting/delaying certain new energy mineral leases or permits on federal lands, or (b) withdrawing certain federal lands from mineral leasing activities; requires the resumption of oil and natural gas leasing onshore and offshore; and limits the drawdown of petroleum in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until a plan is developed to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and natural gas production.

Last week, I joined efforts with Rep. Claudia Tenney to introduce the Diverting IRS Resources to the Exigent Crisis Through (DIRECT) Funds for Border Security Act. This legislation stops Biden’s new IRS army from launching audits of middle-class families and instead invests those funds in additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to secure the Southern Border. 

Democrats would rather audit more hard-working Americans than prioritize the crisis at our southern border. The American people want lower taxes, less government intrusion, and a safe and secure border. But under Joe Biden, we are getting the complete opposite. Instead, 87,000 new IRS agents will make the agency larger than the Pentagon, State Department, FBI, and Border Patrol combined. It’s way past time for this administration to take a serious look at their failing border policies and reverse them. The DIRECT Funds for Border Security Act will provide CBP with the money needed to hire new agents to secure our border.

This week, I had a great meeting with the American Jewish Committee to talk about the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Antisemitism that I sit on. I also spoke about our Commitment to America agenda at the Pachyderm monthly meeting. It was a great week, and my grandchildren even got to join me at the Pachyderm meeting. 

Legislation cosponsored:

• H.R. 1348 - To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Freedom Riders, collectively, in recognition of their unique contribution to Civil Rights, which inspired a revolutionary movement for equality in interstate travel.
• H.R. 8983 - To rescind certain balances made available to the Internal Revenue Service and amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently increase the standard deduction.
• H.R. 9045 - To amend the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act to assist small businesses that seek to engage in the research, development, and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors by delaying onerous licensing fees, and for other purposes.
• H.R. 9128 - To amend section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to clarify congressional intent with respect to agreements under such section, and for other purposes.

God Bless you and God Bless Texas!