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The House of Representatives was back in session this week and the majority brought to the floor three misguided bills that restrict energy development throughout federal lands and off our coasts. Careful drilling is an integral part of a broad strategy for U.S. energy independence, and all our nation’s natural resources should be harnessed in a safe and environmentally-conscious way. Rather than impose top-down government mandates, Republicans are committed to policies that encourage bottom-up American ingenuity, increase America’s energy independence, and support the millions of energy sector jobs in our economy.
H.R. 205, the Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act, would extend indefinitely the existing moratorium on offshore oil and gas development in the eastern Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast, which is currently set to expire in June 2022. H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act, would prohibit lease sales for oil and gas development in the Atlantic and Pacific regions of the outer continental shelf. H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, would repeal provisions of law that require the Interior Department to conduct at least two oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). It would also prohibit the Bureau of Land Management from administering oil and gas leasing in ANWR, whose coastal plain is one of the most promising, untapped areas for oil and gas exploration in the country.
| Bringing More Transparency to Washington |
Yesterday, my colleague Rep. Harley Rouda and I introduced a bipartisan resolution requiring the supervisors of employees of Congressional offices to submit reports on the outside compensation earned by Congressional Fellows. Congressional Fellows offer valuable perspectives that shape public policy, but the industry groups, advocacy groups and for-profit industries that sponsor these fellows cannot benefit by supporting this unique educational opportunity. The resolution would bring badly-needed transparency to the Congressional Fellowship Program. For the first time, it requires supervisors in Member offices or committees to report the sponsors of their fellows and make outside compensation publicly available to ensure fellows' influence does not give their sponsors an unethical advantage.
Here are some snapshots from last weekend in the district and this week in DC.
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Forsyth Tech’s Security Operations Center Lab
Top left: Jamarre Cook, Bottom right: Ralph Meadows |
Grand Re-opening of Union Station in Winston-Salem
Doug Blevins from the Sparta VFW
North Carolina Pork Council
Tim Becker, Vice President of the Diversified Business Unit for HSM Solutions
This week, I spoke on the House floor to commemorate the 18th anniversary of 9/11 and to commend the communities in North Carolina’s Fifth District for solemnly remembering this unforgettable tragedy. Click here or the image below to view my remarks.
On Friday, October 11, I will be hosting a benefits workshop for seniors from 1 to 3 pm at the Watauga County Public Library. As the open-enrollment period for Medicare approaches, this workshop will include timely information for beneficiaries and their families. Local organizations as well as state and federal agencies will be available to answer questions and provide information on a number of benefits available for seniors. For more information or to RSVP, contact Audrey Bishop in the Boone District Office at 828-265-0240.
The House returns next week to vote on legislation to fund the federal government into the next fiscal year and debate a bill that would affect access to arbitration, the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal Act.
If you haven’t already, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with my work in Congress and goings-on in the Fifth District. Have a blessed weekend.
Sincerely,
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