WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, PA-5, has voted to support the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act (H.R. 1900), which would expedite the federal review process for interstate natural gas pipelines. The measure is the third energy-related bill to advance through the House this week.
“Since the early seventies our country has been spending hundreds of billions of dollars a year on energy imports to fulfill our energy needs – money that could otherwise be used to invest in our kids and pay down the debt,” stated Thompson.
“It’s time for us to get serious about ending our reliance on foreign sources of energy, which begins by developing more energy here at home. The House this week acted on three separate bills that will expand domestic energy production, facilitate and improve energy transport, and ultimately increase energy affordability for consumers and American families across the country.”
· H.R. 1900, Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act: The bill, which passed the House by a vote of 252-165, expedites and modernizes the federal review process for natural gas pipeline permits and speeds construction of new pipelines to transport natural gas.
· H.R. 1965, Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act: The bill, which passed the House Wednesday by a vote of 228-192, expands onshore energy production on federal lands by streamlining government regulations.
· H.R. 2728, Protecting States’ Rights to Promote American Energy Security Act: The bill, which passed the House Wednesday by a vote of 235-187, prohibits the federal government from usurping states’ rights by enforcing duplicative and excessive regulations on hydraulic fracturing.