I am humbled and honored to have been chosen by my colleagues to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee — the oldest, and one of the most influential, legislative committees in Congress. The Energy and Commerce Committee oversees America’s energy industries and infrastructure (among many other industries) that are so vital to the economic growth of Eastern and Southeastern Ohio. I consider this is a great responsibility, because it provides Eastern and Southeastern Ohio with a prominent voice in Washington on important policy issues that affect our daily lives.

Ohio’s Sixth Congressional District sits on top of the Utica and Marcellus shale plays, where oil and gas activity has spurred new economic opportunities for the region, and has helped propel the United States to the status of the world’s leading producer of oil and natural gas.  This “Shale Revolution,” has yielded not only new economic opportunities here at home, but also provides America with new and beneficial geopolitical advantages on the world stage.  We must do all we can to take advantage of this abundance. 

Energy Dominance (dominance = independence and security) is the next great frontier for America, and domestic energy production is poised to be the catalyst that launches the next great era of American exceptionalism.  In order to lower energy prices, create much-needed jobs, and make America more energy independent, I support a true “all of the above” approach to energy development. This approach starts with going after America's own natural resources, including the vast oil and natural gas reserves in America – onshore, offshore, and in shale plays across America like the Marcellus and Utica.  Coal is fundamental to America’s energy dominance as it remains an abundant and affordable energy source, and we can use it environmentally cleanly and responsibly to generate energy for generations to come. Expansion of our nuclear power capabilities should also be included in this “all of the above” approach to energy, as would finding a place in our energy portfolio for alternative sources of energy like wind and solar as long as they are based on market driven innovations that can survive in the free market without government assistance. Every source of energy, including oil, gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, hydro, bio-fuels, and other alternative energy sources all have a place in America's energy portfolio.

Such an energy vision that harnesses America's exceptionalism will lead to new innovations and technologies around domestic energy production, storage, distribution, and usage, and will lead us to economic prosperity, job growth, and energy dominance. Americans deserve real leadership on energy development, which is why I have voted for legislation that invests in energy research, develops new energy technology, and stops onerous regulations from the EPA, Department of the Interior, and other federal government agencies.

The Trump Administration has helped turn the federal government into more of a partner in progress, rather than the barrier to energy development it had been for so long. With common sense regulations that protect our national security, public health, and public safety Americans are enjoying a positively advancing, vibrant, and growing private sector economy that makes us the envy of the world.