Conaway Chronicle
LAST WEEK
U.S. House of Representatives
June 21 Senate confirmed Leon E. Panetta to be next Secretary of Defense
June 22 House passed Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011
June 23 House passed America Invents Act
June 24 House voted down authorization of force in Libya as required by War Powers Act
National News
June 22 Congressional Budget Office released 2011 Long-term budget outlook
June 23 President announced release 30 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve
THIS WEEK
District work period June 27-July 1
June 29 Rep. Conaway travel to Mason and Eldorado; Mason town hall; Eldorado town hall
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LEON PANETTA
Representative from California; United States Army, 1963-1965; director, Office of Civil Rights, United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1969-1970; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the eight succeeding Congresses until his resignation on January 22, 1993 (January 3, 1977-January 22, 1993); chair, Committee on the Budget (One Hundred First and One Hundred Second Congresses); director, Office of Management and Budget, 1993-1994; chief of staff, The White House, 1994-1996; chairman, Pew Oceans Commission, 2000-2003; private advocate; director, Central Intelligence Agency, 2009-present.
JOBS AND ENERGY PERMITTING ACT OF 2011
This bill will eliminate the needless permitting delays stalling important American energy production opportunities off the coast of Alaska. For years uncertainty and confusion under the Clean Air Act has delayed oil exploration in the Alaskan Outer Continental Shelf. By voting yes for the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011, my colleagues and I moved Congress one step closer to eliminating the permit delays stifling our offshore energy exploration, and hindering the American energy production that will lower energy prices and create tens of thousands of new jobs.
AMERICA INVENTS ACT
Our nation’s economy is struggling, millions of Americans are out of work, and the need for common sense policies focused on boosting economic growth and getting people back to work needs to be priority number one. Presently, there is a backlog of more than 700,000 patents inhibiting American innovators and inventors looking to create new products, grow their businesses and create jobs. To combat this obstacle I voted yes for the America Invents Act, a bill that will streamline and modernize the outdated patent process and make it easier for businesses small and large to attract capital for investment, launch new products, and create jobs.
LIBYA
For over six weeks the U.S. has been involved in the Libyan conflict without Congressional approval. Despite the recommendations of the Presidents top legal advisers, he maintains Congressional approval for this action is unnecessary because the U.S. is not directly involved in Libyan hostilities. In response, the House voted down a resolution authorizing the President’s actions and U.S. involvement in Libya.
I voted against this resolution because I do not believe the U.S. has a clearly defined mission in Libya. The bottom line is defining war based on whether or not U.S. forces are on the fighting on the ground is senseless. Has the U.S. contributed to the conflict? Yes. Are there political and diplomatic goals? Yes. Was Congress involved in the decision? No.
CBO LONG TERM BUDGET OUTLOOK
On Wednesday, the Congressional Budget Office released the 2011 Long-term Budget Outlook. In the report, the CBO noted that America’s “aging population and rapidly rising health care cost will sharply increase federal spending for health care programs and Social Security.” It also stated that the national debt will surpass the size of the nation’s economy by the end of the year and double the size of the economy by 2025.
Reports like this reinforce our nations need for a new fiscal trajectory. Our national debt is exploding, and unemployment has been above eight percent for 28 consecutive months and economic uncertainty hindering our economy. Congress needs to stop spending money we don’t have and implement policies that spur job creation, revive our economy, and preserve the America greatness for the next generation.
RELEASE OF 30 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL FROM U.S. STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
On Thursday, the President announced the U.S. released 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). During the announcement the president explained this action was taken as part of an international effort to make up for disruption in Libya's oil production. In conjunction with the U.S. release, member countries of the International Energy Agency also committed the release of 30 million barrels, totaling the global release to 60 million barrels.
While the president’s decision to finally address the nation’s high gas prices is commendable, his action falls short of addressing the problem at hand. In the long term, tapping the SPR will do nothing to bring down the price of oil, as it will only provide the nation with one million additional barrels a day for one month.
America is home to over 150 billion barrels of conventional oil. To reach American energy independence we need to develop these domestic resources, which would employ tens of thousands of Americans with well-paying jobs in the process and bring energy prices down. Short term solutions will not fix our long term problems.
This week I will be home for a week long district work period. On Wednesday I will be traveling to Mason and Eldorado counties for town halls. If you would like to attend, please check my website for information.
If you have questions or concerns in need of an answer, please submit them via my website, Facebook or Twitter.
Until the next Conaway Chronicle.
-Mike
