Herrell: Democrats Double Down on Failed Energy Policies, but Republicans Bring Solutions

WASHINGTON — Subcommittee on the Environment Ranking Member Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) opened today’s hearing by emphasizing her commitment to fight for the best interests of her constituents and pledged to protect industries and jobs vital to New Mexico’s economy. In her opening statement, she highlighted how over 100,000 New Mexicans are employed by the oil and gas industry and stressed that they deserve to hear from senior-level officials on their plans to address the ongoing energy crisis created by the Biden Administration’s Green New Deal policies. She noted that any refusal by Administration officials to testify before the Oversight Committee is unacceptable. In conclusion, Subcommittee Ranking Member Herrell highlighted real solutions to the Administration’s self-inflicted energy crisis by encouraging Democrats to consider permitting reform, increasing oil and gas production on federal land, and implementing new offshore and onshore oil production projects.

Below are her remarks as prepared:

Thank you, Chairwoman Maloney. And thank you to the witnesses for appearing today. 

As the only Republican in the New Mexico congressional delegation, I pledged to fight for my constituents and protect the industries and jobs that are a vital to their livelihoods.

Over 100,000 of my fellow New Mexicans are employed by the oil and gas industry—it is the largest single industry in our state.

New Mexico is the third largest oil-producer in the country and a world leader in natural gas production.

I represent a district that is home to the prolific Permian Basin and my constituents know firsthand the value of American-produced oil and gas.

We live in a nation that produces oil and gas cleaner than any other country in the world, driven by innovative new technologies.

In my role as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment, I have called on the Chairman to issue subpoenas to Biden Administration officials to compel their testimony.

The American people deserve to hear from senior-level Biden Administration witnesses on their solutions to the energy crisis we face today.

Their refusal to come and testify indicates that they don’t have any solutions.

That’s why I will spend the remainder of my time doing the Biden Administration’s work for them and offering real solutions to address our current energy crisis.

President Biden, reform the permitting process and remove obstacles from constructing modern energy infrastructure, so that working families in New Mexico do not have to live in fear of blackouts and brownouts.

Reinstitute important reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act, so that America can actually build things again. 

Reclarify the definitions of the “Waters of the United States” rule and modernize the Endangered Species Act, so that the federal government stops threatening the livelihoods of my constituents in rural New Mexico.

Increase oil and gas production on federal lands, so that New Mexico’s school children have the funding they need for excellent educational opportunities for decades to come.

Encourage new offshore and onshore drilling, so that our nation can once again be energy-secure.

Reduce the regulatory uncertainty that prevents construction of new oil and gas infrastructure, including pipelines and LNG export terminals.

Stop robbing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve of vital resources for pre-election gimmicks and putting our national security at risk.

End our own reliance on Chinese rare earth and critical mineral production and encourage investment in a strong domestic alternative by reversing the decision to stop Twin Metals and the Resolution Copper mine.

End the practice of “sue and settle” and hiding settlements from the American people

The time has come to provide the American people with a comprehensive strategy to solve our energy and cost-of-living crisis.

You see, America, in a couple months you will decide which path we will go down as a nation.

Is it the path of American energy innovation, independence, and excellence?

Or is it the path of summer blackouts and winter price hikes?

Democrats double down on failed policies, but Republicans bring solutions.I yield back.