Texas Alliance of Energy Producers commends the U.S. Congress
  by: OilOnline
  Friday, July 29, 2005

The largest oil and gas association in Texas commended the U.S. Congress for passing a comprehensive energy bill. The following statement is by Alex Mills, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, which represents 2,717 members in more than 280 cities and 22 states.

Statement by Alex Mills:
“The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers commends the United States House of Representatives and Senate for passing a comprehensive energy bill that is designed to increase domestic energy supplies and reduce consumption.

“The Alliance applauds House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton for his determination to enact comprehensive energy legislation. Texans Ralph Hall (Rockwall), Michael Burgess (Denton), Sheila Jackson Lee (Houston), Mac Thornberry (Amarillo) and Gene Green (Houston) all played key roles in the House to ensure passage of the bill.

“Obviously, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn led the fight in the Senate.

“If Congress had passed this bill 30 years ago, the nation’s dependence on foreign oil would have declined instead of increased from 35 percent in the 1970s to 60 percent today. It attacks the nation’s thirst for energy by encouraging conservation, and pursues a strategy that encourages energy production in the United States from crude oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar and other domestic energy sources.

“In our opinion it is not a perfect bill. More could have been done. But the legislative process is not perfect. It is full of compromises.

“Will it impact price immediately? No. Will it affect supply within six months? Probably not, but the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is a long-term blueprint that will reduce our dependence of foreign oil at some point in time and that is good for America.

“The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, organized 75 years ago, believes that foreign oil is a key threat to America’s economic and military security. Reducing our dependence on foreign oil is good policy for America.”