As Republican Leader of the House Energy Subcommittee, I am committed to developing policy that fosters job growth and fosters a reliable and affordable energy supply. Through a commitment to North American energy production, we can ensure a steady supply of affordable and reliable energy, spur job creation and manufacturing in Michigan, and fortify our long-term energy security. With advancements in technology and the discovery of game-changing oil and natural gas reserves, we are experiencing a new era of energy abundance. Building the infrastructure to move these supplies to consumers is emerging as the real challenge of the 21^st century.  

An "All of the Above" Approach 

An “all of the above” energy plan focuses on emerging clean energy technologies like renewables - solar, wind, and hydropower - as well as traditional energy solutions - safe nuclear, coal, oil, and natural gas - that keep costs low and energy affordable for Southwest Michigan families and businesses. 

I believe an "all of the above" approach, mixed with commonsense updates to our outdated energy laws, will spur job creation and economic growth and keep prices affordable for everyone.

Pipeline Security and Safety

Pipelines remain the safest and most environmentally sound way to transport energy. In 2011, I worked with Michigan Congressman John Dingell, the former Democratic Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to craft and shepherd through comprehensive pipeline safety legislation that was signed into law in January of 2012.

Four years later, we did it again, with Republican and Democrats working together to pass another bipartisan pipeline safety bill.

But that bill’s authorization expired October 1, 2019. After months of discussing a bipartisan reauthorization with our Democratic colleagues, they decided to move forward on their own path, crafting a partisan plan without Republican input.

2.7 million miles of energy pipelines deliver trillions of cubic feet of natural gas and billions of barrels of liquid petroleum products to communities across the nation every year. A disaster could devastate our economy, our environment and the wellbeing of American families, which makes playing politics with this reauthorization simply irresponsible.

We cannot let political games and minor disagreements get in the way of a solid bipartisan bill that would protect our pipelines and ensure the safe delivery of our nation’s energy resources.

Ensuring Grid Reliability and Security

As the top Republican on the Energy Subcommittee, I have been leading the charge to secure our electricity grid from a myriad of threats whether they be cyber, physical, natural, or man-made. In 2015, Congress passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which included language I authored giving the Department of Energy (DOE) more authority to prevent and react to threats to the electrical grid. While the FAST Act was a good start, I will continue to work with my subcommittee to ensure that our grid is as secure and reliable as it can be.

Supporting the Advancement of Safe Nuclear Power

I support a visionary nuclear policy that will create jobs, spur manufacturing, and reduce our reliance on traditional fossil fuels. 

When it comes to nuclear energy, it is absolutely critical to make sure these plants operate safely. I have remained in close contact with officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

I also support a permanent storage site for our nation’s used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The need is urgent as spent fuel and waste continues to accumulate at sites across the country that were never designed for long-term storage. We have continued to examine the work of the NRC to address the management and disposal of this material to ensure the public and environment remain protected.