February 28, 2013

Remarks: The Congressional Natural Gas Caucus has re-launched with a 4-member bipartisan leadership team in order to expand efforts and organizational resources in the 113th Congress. Despite a fragile economic recovery, the nation is witnessing an energy revolution through which energy resource development is offering economic growth, new jobs, and lower energy costs. America's newly found ability to access expansive reserves of natural gas is a large part of this new domestic resource base, which has afforded new opportunities for America's manufacturing sector based on the comparative advantage of lower energy costs, and for American families as they heat their homes at a fraction of the cost. Despite these new fortunes, there are countless policy challenges that must be leveraged for the nation to continue benefiting from this abundant, clean, low-cost energy source. The mission of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus is to educate Members of Congress and the public about the importance of natural gas as a domestic energy resource, its role in meeting the nation's energy demand and in attaining energy security. I, along with my fellow co-chairs -- Representatives Gene Green (TX); Tom Reed (NY); and Jim Costa (CA) -- encourage members to join us in this effort today. I yield back.