Energy & Environment

Thousands upon thousands of foresters, scientists, firefighters, local government officials, and private landowners agree: federal forestland managers need the authorities provided by the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act for the future of America's national forests. The professionals who manage and protect our forests on a daily basis support this legislation because it allows them to use their expertise, hands-on experience and practical knowledge to make timely and responsible decisions necessary to improve the health, vitality and safety of our national forests

Our common sense, bipartisan legislation came to the House Floor after nine committee hearings across the country, more than fifty different drafts, and overwhelming support by both the House Resources and House Agriculture Committees.

The Internet has flourished as an open medium where users can access any lawful content, applications and services, using any devices. Recently, however, some last-mile broadband providers have indicated their intent to engage in a practice which would undermine the openness and accessibility of the Internet, qualities which have made the Internet a major driving force in our nation's economy. They plan to charge websites for users to reach them more quickly, thereby creating an Internet with a fast lane and a slow lane.

The Internet Freedom and Nondiscrimination Act would ensure that the Internet continues to exist as an unfettered medium where startups and businesses of all sizes can provide content and services reachable by all consumers. Because it provides that if data of any kind is prioritized then all data of a similar kind would be entitled to priority treatment without any charge for the prioritization, it would assure that the market power broadband providers now exercise over transmission is not extended to control of content. This measure is particularly important and timely because H.R. 5252, the Energy and Commerce Committee video franchising measure, is insufficient to ensure that broadband network providers do not abuse their market power to discriminate against competitive Internet content or services.

The House voted yesterday to stop letting oil and gas companies make money off of public property without paying the American people their fair share. For too long, energy companies have been taking oil and gas from the American people for free and then selling it back to them at record prices. The House put its collective foot down and sent a loud and clear message to energy companies that their days of taking oil and gas from the American people without paying for it are over. After being taken advantage of by giant energy corporations, the American people struck back, demanding that they receive billions of dollars in royalty payments. Passage of this amendment also deals a stunning blow to the pending Kerr-McGee lawsuit, in which the energy company is seeking to relieve itself of $60 billion in royalty payments. Under this amendment, Kerr-McGee would no longer be entitled to new leases with the federal government if it prevails in its lawsuit.

This is good legislation to address a vulnerability in our Strategic Petroleum Reserve system that was unveiled after last year's hurricanes, but which has not yet been resolved. With a strategic refinery reserve to protect the nation's refinery capacity, we can help minimize future supply disruptions and be better prepared for extreme circumstatnces.

As energy prices continue on a steep, upward trajectory, and the debate in Congress over matters related to offshore energy exploration begins to attract the attention of a larger audience, much will be cited and suggested in the weeks to come by various interest groups and, by proxy, their constituent lawmakers, including Congresswoman Capps, about the safety, feasibility, and necessity of offshore natural gas production. The following is meant to help you separate some of the most distorted and specious claims from the actual facts as they appear on the ground.So-called environmentalists claim: Drilling ONLY for natural gas is a myth – oil will always be involved.

The truth: A familiar refrain, for sure – but a stunningly inaccurate one. Canadian companies drill only for natural gas every day in the Great Lakes without touching oil. But don’t take my word for it – contact them yourself. I recommend a gentleman named Greg Stringham, vice president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. His number is (403) 267-1106.

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With all the work that Congress needs to do this year, it is a shame that we are wasting time today considering Rep. Peterson's proposal to allow new drilling in our sensitive coastal and marine areas.

Last year I led the bipartisan opposition to a similar proposal from Rep. Peterson that was soundly defeated.Here we are again, considering a flawed proposal that fails to responsibly address our country's energy needs and at the same time jeopardizes our economically and environmentally valuable coastal areas. Read more...

Nuclear energy plays a critical role in the nation’s energy infrastructure. In addition to Yucca Mountain, I believe we need to consider other alternatives to handle our nuclear waste.

On May 3, the House passed the Federal Energy Price Protection Act of 2006, [HR:5253], a bill giving the Federal Trade Commission the authority to prosecute instances of price gouging in the market for gasoline, diesel fuel, crude oil, home heating oil and biofuels. The bill passed 389-34, with my support. I am well aware of the pain that my constituents are experiencing at the pump and they deserve to know that the price they pay for gasoline reflects its true cost.

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People use wood - to build homes, to make paper - and that wood needs to come from somewhere.  We can use wood from trees that are dead or dying, or from trees that are alive and healthy.  We can responsibly harvest wood here at home, abiding by environmental protections and creating jobs, or we
can get our wood from clear cuts in equatorial rainforests where the environment is far more fragile and environmental protection and labor laws are far weaker or even nonexistent. 

The Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act is a responsible, bipartisan bill that will enable - not require - federal land managers to utilize dead timber and responsibly restore the health and diversity
of our forests after a catastrophic event like a wildfire or hurricane.  It has been endorsed by organized labor, scientists, forestry professionals, firefighters, and conservation groups alike.  And according to a recent CBO estimate, it will actually save taxpayers $23 million over ten years.

To enter into a partnership with a country for oil exploration, who has in the past expropriated American oil companies' properties in Cuba would be only to repeat a cycle of mistakes made in the past. It would be only to come into the fold of a dictator who does not observe or understand the rule of law.

I would suggest that the bill I have filed which tries to re-enact and tries to speak to the Cuban embargo that has been in place for many years, with good reason; that it would be strongly enforced against those who seek to invest in partnership with this illegitimate government, with this government that continues to be a threat to its neighbors, continues to be a hostile government to the United States.