Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted an amendment from Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and Congressmen Bill Flores (R-Texas) repealing Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The amendment states that no funds shall be made available to enforce Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Early this year, nearly identical legislation was included in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations and Agriculture Appropriations bills. Following adoption, Congressman Conaway and Flores made the following statements:
“Under both Democratic and Republican majorities, the U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed National Defense Authorization Acts that include a provision reducing the stifling effects Section 526 of the 2007 so called Energy Bill has on our warfighter’s ability to secure fuel from non-conventional sources,” said Congressman Conaway. “I strongly support any and all efforts to remove obstacles that prevent the DoD from purchasing fuel, which is necessary for the military to accomplish its primary mission: Keeping America and Americans safe.”
“Our Nation’s military should not be burdened with wasting it’s time studying fuel emissions when there is a simple fix–and that is not restricting their fuel choices based on extreme environmental views, policies and regulations like Section 526. Section 526 increases our reliance on Middle Eastern oil, hinders our military readiness and our national security, prevents the use of safe, clean, and efficient North American oil and gas, increases the cost of American food and energy and hurts American jobs and the American economy,” said Congressman Flores. “Placing limits on federal agencies, particularly the Defense Department’s, fuel choices is an unacceptable precedent to set in regards to America’s energy policy and independence. We must ensure that our military becomes more energy independent and that it can effectively and efficiently rely on domestic and stable sources of fuel. Stopping the impact of Section 526 helps us promote American energy, improve the American economy and create American jobs.”
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