Arrington: We Cannot Afford to Destroy the Oil and Gas Industry For the Sake of the Left’s Radical Climate Narrative
On Thursday, during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Representative Jodey Arrington (TX-19) criticized President Biden and the radical Left’s illogical prioritization of climate change, specifically as it relates to the healthcare industry.
“The Green New Deal agenda is an extreme position where the solution is far worse than the problem of stewarding our environment and reducing emissions,” said Rep. Arrington. “I believe the climate is changing, but I do not buy into the premise that it’s the greatest threat to the United States or the planet, and that’s the framework that our President and the radical Left have supported.”
Remarks as Delivered
For the record, I believe the climate is changing, but I do not buy into the premise that human activity is driving that. I do not buy into the fact that climate change is one of the greatest threats to the United States or the planet. I do not buy into the Green New Deal, and that’s the framework the President has supported. Kamala Harris, our Vice President, said we should remove the filibuster and pass it, and folks up here have endorsed it.
That is a radical and extreme position. It is a position where the solution is far worse than the problem of stewarding our environment and reducing emissions.
It’s crazy to me that we would undermine – unilaterally surrender – our energy independence at a time like we’re experiencing. At a very tenuous time, a destabilizing time, when we’re watching Europe in their weak position visa-vis the petro-tyrant, Vladimir Putin.
We had a hearing yesterday on Taiwan. We discussed their 100% dependence on energy sources outside of their country and what a predicament that is, and the implications of national security that energy independence is. We’re undermining it, and we’re running up the cost on Americans. One out of five [Americans] couldn’t even heat their homes this winter. I’m certain things haven’t gotten any better for them.
So, you talk about the implications of taxing and regulating something or having a whole of government assault on an industry that has blessed us with low consumer costs, energy independence, the greatest economy in the world, and the land of opportunity. I don’t get it – I absolutely don’t get it. It’s the extreme position of many of my colleagues, but not all of them.
I’m looking at Ron Kind, and I don’t think he subscribes, probably, to the extreme policy. But too many do. I think probably those folks who subscribe to that are the ones driving the agenda, and it’s unfortunate. I think when the American people look at those implications and count the costs, they will reject the Green New Deal agenda and philosophical view that this is the greatest crisis of all.
I go back to my district, and Covenant is a hospital that the Providence System owns. We appreciate the investment in our community. I love the team and work closely with them. So, I’m very grateful…tell me what the top three threats are to providing healthcare – the quality care that you folks are committed to – to my constituents and your patients in West Texas and beyond?