I am proud to represent the energy capital of the world.  Here in Houston, we know about energy.  We know the last decade has brought an energy renaissance that has reduced costs and increased investment here and around the world.  We know that domestic production of oil and natural gas is critical to our national security, our economy, and our energy future.  And we know that renewable energy is an increasingly important part of the energy mix.  We also know that climate change represents a real and growing threat.  We know we are already experiencing its effects.

To meet this dual challenge, we need the U.S. leading the way to an energy future that is safer, cleaner, and more efficient.  To do that, we need big ideas.  And there is no better place to find them than here in Houston.

When it comes to energy innovation, this is its home.  And people across the district are working to make sure Texas is the leader in developing wind energy in the U.S. We have installed more wind power than any other state.  Research and development of new energy technologies for carbon capture are happening here, and creative natural infrastructure ideas like carbon sequestration through a market-based system are Texas-based proposals.

Most important, in the last decade, the advances in technology that have transformed our energy economy have substantially reduced U.S. carbon emissions.  Replacing coal-fired plants with natural gas plants has contributed more to the reduction of domestic carbon emissions than any other effort.  And reducing emissions is key to addressing climate change.

We need the input of a diverse and broad coalition of stakeholders who have energy expertise to chart our path forward.  Our plan and our process must be focused on working together, not casting blame or delaying action.  In Congress, I bring this unique and important perspective.

I have advocated for policies that address the need for clean, reliable energy at home and around the world, the reality and urgency of climate change, and the concerns for our environment and our communities.  I am also focused on the question of how we develop modern energy infrastructure that both lowers carbon emissions and delivers low-cost energy to consumers which allows the economy to thrive.

I have spoken up in favor of thoughtful policies that will help us reach our shared goals, and I have spoken out against proposals that I believe are misguided.  I have helped ensure authorization and funding for critical energy research and development and pilot programs for innovative safety and other innovations.  In 2019, I voted for the Climate Action Now Act, recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement and ensuring that we are leading the efforts on climate and leading in energy production and technology, while introducing an amendment that our plan to do so remains technology-neutral.  At the same time, I have opposed efforts to ban fracking, to ban offshore drilling, and to curtail use of natural gas, which has been a key driver in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

I introduced the Revive Economic Growth and Reclaim Orphaned Wells (REGROW) Act, which President Biden signed into law as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to establish a program to plug and remediate orphaned wells across the U.S.  The State of Texas will receive nearly $350 million because of this legislation, which will reduce environmental hazards and public health risks and create good jobs.  I also worked on key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that help reduce emissions.