WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) advanced legislation through his seat on the House Appropriations Committee that focuses on lowering energy costs and advancing reliable energy resources. Additionally, West Texas has been identified as a potential source of critical minerals, and Congressman Gonzales also advanced one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades. 

 

“Over the past four years, high energy costs and reliance on foreign oil and critical materials have put our nation on the wrong track. Through my seat on the House Appropriations Committee, I worked alongside conservative, principled lawmakers to cut funding for President Biden’s rush-to-green energy agenda and support initiatives that support America’s energy industry, all while saving the taxpayers billions of dollars. Bottom line, the Energy and Water and Interior policy packages passed out of the House Appropriations Committee put Texas and America first,” said Congressman Tony Gonzales. 

 

Key Provisions Advanced Through the House Appropriations Committee by Congressman Tony Gonzales:

Support for Texas’ Energy Industry: 

• Increases funding for onshore and offshore oil and gas development
• Prohibits the use of the social cost of carbon
• Prohibits the EPA from imposing the methane fee on oil and gas producers created by the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act
• Promotes domestic mining by ensuring ancillary mining activities can be approved
• Prohibits DEI, CRT, and any federal funding for environmental justice activities

 

Support for National Security Priorities: 

• Supports one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades, reducing reliance on foreign sources
• Maintains funding for cybersecurity efforts that enable a resilient, reliable, and secure electric grid
• Recognizes DOE’s national defense programs are critical as a nuclear deterrent against adversaries like China and Russia
• Recognizes cyber targeting of public utilities and encourages DOE to incorporate pilot programs with the energy industry to demonstrate active defense cybersecurity protection
• Directs DOE to work with other federal agencies to prioritize mine project approvals, highlighting the supply chain needs of the U.S.-allied nations, to advance manufacturing and defense
• Maintains support for high-performance computing, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence efforts

 

 

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