The HEAT Report

The HEAT Report is a weekly newsletter focusing on how members of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) promote American energy security, and an all-of-the-above energy economy.

The Latest:

Last week, the U.S. Labor Department reported that inflation has skyrocketed to its highest levels in 40 years, with consumer prices rising 7.5% in January compared to the same time last year.

There's simply no sugarcoating it: American consumers are getting hammered by the Biden Administration's destructive, failed policies.

Market analysts are already warning hardworking Americans to anticipate high energy prices for the foreseeable future. The American Automobile Association reports that the national average for a gallon of gas has increased to $3.44 – up nearly one dollar since February 2021 while reaching the highest mark since 2014.

Meanwhile, Russia's threatened invasion of Ukraine is driving further volatility in oil and natural gas prices. President Biden enabled Vladimir Putin's aggression months ago when he ceded all leverage by waiving crucial sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Instead of killing the Keystone XL pipeline – which cost thousands of American energy jobs – or attempting to block critical oil and gas lease sales, the Biden Administration should work to stabilize global markets and fight inflation down by focusing on an American-produced energy strategy that cuts energy costs for families and creates jobs here in America.

This Week's HEAT Member Highlights:

Representative Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) brought a group of his Congressional Western Caucus colleagues to tour the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' drill core library in Hibbing. They also hosted a forum with regional mining leaders, national industry advocates, and members of the local community to discuss the benefits of Minnesota mining to the nation.

Representative Pete Sessions (R-Texas) published an op-ed for Fox News laying out the facts on how the Biden Administration has waged war on American energy and called on Congress to focus on an all-of-the-above energy strategy that regains America's energy independence.

Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Ranking Member David McKinley, P.E. (R-W. Va.) led a letter with 47 House colleagues expressing serious concern regarding President Biden's decision to nominate Sarah Bloom Raskin to serve as Vice Chair for Supervision at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Rep. McKinley also highlighted significant funding to restore abandoned mine lands in West Virginia.

During a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, Representative Austin Scott (R-Ga.) condemned the New York Timesfor its attempts to demonize farm families and push a radical climate agenda onto farmers. Rep. Scott noted that American farm families are the backbone of the nation's food supply.

Representative Fred Keller (R-Pa.) and House Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) led a letter to President Biden expressing concerns about his plans to supply gas to Europe amidst a domestic energy crisis. Rep. Keller also participated in a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing in which he spoke out against the Biden Administration's policies which have crippled domestic energy production and sent household costs soaring.

Representative Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.) recorded a statement listing the various ways that hardworking Americans are paying for President Biden's anti-energy policies.

Representative Michael Cloud (R-Texas) called out the Biden Administration for its insensible energy policies that make America dependent on foreign energy.

Headlines:

• Boost gas production to avoid European-style energy crisis, industry tells Biden (Washington Examiner)
• Biden's climate agenda stalls, and progressives fume (POLITICO)
• Oil hits 7-yr highs, fueled by Russia's troop buildup near Ukraine (Reuters)
• Germany Tries to Loosen Its Ties to Russian Gas Pipelines (New York Times)
• How Russia hooked Europe on its oil and gas -- and overcame US efforts to prevent energy dependence on Moscow (Yahoo News)

The Response on Social Media:

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) criticized the Biden Administration for its failed policies that have caused inflation to skyrocket to its highest level in 40 years, despite Administration officials claiming that inflation was transitory and wouldn't last.

HEAT Co-Chair Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) blasted President Biden for his energy policies that have given leverage to Vladimir Putin. Rep. Duncan stated that the United States should focus on prioritizing domestic energy production, American energy independence, and national security.

Representative Fred Keller (R-Pa.) joined Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Ranking Member David McKinley, P.E. (R-W. Va.), and Representative Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) in condemning President Biden's nomination of anti-fossil fuel advocate Sarah Bloom Raskin to the Vice Chairmanship of the Federal Reserve.

Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas) denounced President Biden's weak leadership for causing the current crisis taking place between Ukraine and Russia and emboldening Russian energy dominance.

Representative Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) noted that the average product made in China requires three times as much carbon as products made in America. Rep. Lesko also pointed out that products manufactured in America are 40 percent more carbon-efficient than the world average.

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) condemned the Biden Administration for its failed energy policies that are causing Florida families to pay an average of $3.46 a gallon for gas.