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Just a short time ago America was energy independent.
The United States was a net exporter of oil and the American people had access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy to heat their homes and fill their cars.
All of this was done while America achieved the largest decline in carbon emissions of any country. One could argue, the U.S. energy production was the most efficient and cleanest in the world.
Now, families are battling rising gas prices while expecting to see their energy bills skyrocket this winter.
What a difference one year and one Administration can make.
Americans are paying 61% more nationally for a gallon of gas. Pennsylvanians are paying 45% more for gas, and the state already has the second highest gas tax in the U.S. In other parts of the country, the price for a gallon of gas has reached $7.59.
With winter fast approaching, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that home heating prices will rise by more than 54% for some American households. At the same time, the Biden Administration is imposing new tax on domestic natural gas. They must reverse course and turn to responsible pro-energy polices.
This is a self-inflicted energy crisis that was completely avoidable and could be fixed if the Biden Administration would reverse course and return to pro-American energy policies.
But what is President Biden and the Democrat’s solution to this problem? Doubling down on their failed energy policies.
Instead of making it easier for American companies to produce oil and gas here at home, the Biden Administration has made it harder and looked to foreign companies for help.
The Administration has begged Russia and OPEC countries to produce more oil, tapped the Strategic Oil Reserve for just three days’ worth of oil, and proposed increasing costs for oil and gas producers to produce on federal land.
With actions like this, we shouldn’t be surprised when we hear the White House Press Secretary argue that “rise in gas over the long term makes an even stronger case for doubling down our focus on clean energy.”
This is just woke gone mad and playing a game with the pocketbooks of families in my district and is just plain wrong. The idea to inflict financial pain to drive an over aggressive green energy agenda is bad policy and not politically or economically sustainable.
This couldn’t be more wrong, and Americans find it manipulative.
Since coming to office, President Biden and his Administration have done virtually everything in their power to decimate domestic fuel production and the well-paying jobs associated with it.
They have halted the Keystone pipeline, killing over 11,000 jobs, while greenlighting a Russian oil pipeline which only strengthens Russia and further adds to their threatening premise around the Ukraine border, placed a pause on new oil and gas leasing on U.S. federal lands, and have discouraged banks from investing in traditional forms of energy production.
At a time when American families are genuinely struggling to pay their bills with hyperinflation, President Biden and Democrat leadership continue to push their $4 trillion Build Back Better agenda that will only exacerbate the current crisis’ and hit hardworking American families the hardest.
The solution to this crisis is simple: stop the agenda driven assault of the energy industry and restore American energy independence that will drive down costs and create jobs.
We all can appreciate and will continue to responsibly strive towards a cleaner environment and a reduction in carbon emission. But it must be done in a manner that is economically feasible for America.
Dan Meuser serves as U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s 9th Congressional District.