Tommy Taylor
PBPA Chairman
The Permian Basin Petroleum Association had a great turnout for our June luncheon where Congressman August Pfluger updated the attending audience with the recent legislative work of the 118th Congress in Washington, D.C. Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a great event.
Congressman Pfluger discussed the recently passed Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) in which Congress focused on the energy security of our nation as well as the debt ceiling agreement, which included the start of permitting reform our nation so desperately needs. I was pleased to hear that many of our country’s Representatives were very concerned about the immediate and future energy needs of our nation. Such a mindset was helpful in successfully negotiating the passage of these important measures. It was also encouraging to hear that many of the Representatives now know where the Permian Basin is located and recognize the importance of the oil and natural gas we produce every day.
The Permian Basin is vitally important to the United States’ energy security. It is estimated that the Basin holds over 60 billion barrels of oil and nearly 300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The significant contribution from the oil fields of the Permian Basin has helped provide reliable and affordable energy for American’s everyday lives for decades and we have the ability to continue doing the same for decades to come.
The 118th Congress has taken important steps to ensure that oil and natural gas production from the Basin can continue at a high level. Reforms were made to streamline the permitting process for infrastructure related to energy production, in addition to reforms of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Such reforms are key elements of continued economic development of the Permian Basin region and provide an opportunity for continued investment in domestic energy resources. Despite hearing all of the negativity towards fossil fuels, it was nice to see that many of our Congressmen and Congresswomen recognize the important role oil and natural gas serve in providing a reliable and affordable energy supply.
The PBPA has worked diligently to engage with, communicate with, and educate our elected officials (and anyone else who will listen) at both the State and Federal levels of our government. Hearing the feedback that our work has been effective should make our members proud to be involved with the PBPA organization. These efforts were certainly instrumental in the passage of H.R. 1 and it’s nice to know our involvement was noticed and impactful. Having energy security as the #1 priority in the U.S. House of Representatives should tell you how important oil and natural gas is to the success of our nation. It’s good to see others recognize what we have known all along. Thank you to everyone who participated in our outreach efforts. Your contribution has been noticed.