After all the fossil fuel extraction disasters, from the coal mine collapses to the oil spills, the Texas Republicans are still pushing their "Drill Baby Drill" energy policy and displaying their continued enthusiasm to support energy companies.

• Joe Barton apologizes to BP because the government is going to make them pay for the damages of their spill.
• Governor Perry calls the BP spill an "act of God".

These policies not only cost lives, tourism revenue, wildlife resources, and marine life habitats, they also cost Texas its leadership in energy productions. Instead of letting Republican politicians continue to push fossil fuel extraction as the answer to the energy demand, I will work to bring new energy research and development to our state.

While other states receive federal research funding to create better photovoltaic cells and better battery technology, Texas politicians direct additional funds to Exxon to dig deeper more dangerous wells.  As your Congressman, I will work to redirect reasonable portions of such funds to new energy research and development.  A delicate balance is required as we aggressively push for this. After all, fossil fuel sources of energy heats our homes, drives our economy, prosperity and standard of living.

National Security

The U.S. imports about 63% of its oil. This is over $350 billion sent overseas, widening our trade deficit and preventing investment of our funds at home where our economy sorely needs it. The big oil companies that Texas Republicans pay homage to, import their oil from some of the most unstable and dangerous countries in the world - Algeria, Chad, Columbia, Republic of Congo, Iraq, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Syria. We rely on countries where there are serious implications for our national security, economy and environment. In essence, with our country continuing to support big oil, our nation finances and sustains unfriendly regimes.

National Energy Policy

Our National Security is one of our nation's highest priorities. The lack of a National Energy Policy has weakened our National Security.

Oil prices that determine the costs of energy to consumers are set in a global market. The degree to which our economy is vulnerable is proportional to our total oil dependence, not just our imported oil dependence. Without a National Energy Policy to reduce oil consumption, our nation has placed itself at serious economic risk. Without such a policy our nation has placed the overall security of the United States in question.

A policy must be created in concert with all the major oil importing nations. Working with these nations is crucial to create the most effective way to improve oil security. The goal of such a policy will be the overall reduction in oil consumption.

There is not one single solution for these energy challenges. However, Americans are resilient and resourceful. If we want to protect our prosperity, security and quality of life we must recognize the risk and do something.  If we want to lead the world in new energy solutions, we must speed up the availability of renewable sources of energy including: Wind, Solar, Hydrogen, Geothermal, and Biomass.

When I am your representative to Washington I will work to put policies in place to support efficient investment in infrastructure so that the risk to our National Security will be lessened.