Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) has outlined recent legislative efforts to boost American energy production in a piece featured on the Congressional Western Caucus’s “Branded Blog.” Pfluger described how daily life and national security are closely tied to reliable energy, emphasizing the work of industry professionals who maintain supply.
He criticized policies from the Biden-Harris Administration, stating, “Unfortunately, for four years, the Biden-Harris Administration took an all-of-government approach to wage war on the American energy industry. From one energy policy disaster to the next, the previous administration pandered to woke environmental extremists over the needs of middle-class Americans and the interests of those working to keep the lights on in America.”
Pfluger cited actions such as canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, halting new oil and gas leases on federal land and waters, draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and implementing a natural gas tax as harmful measures. He highlighted their impact on workers in areas like Texas’s Permian Basin.
“The good news? The American energy industry, and the people behind it, stayed resilient. They persevered and delivered for the American people despite the red tape imposed on them,” Pfluger wrote.
He credited Republican control of Congress and President Trump’s return for changes that aim to restore what he calls “American energy dominance.” According to Pfluger: “Since Republicans took control of the House and Senate, and President Trump returned to office, we’ve prioritized rolling back the red tape and restoring American energy dominance through commonsense policies that benefit every American.”
Central to these efforts is what he calls “the One Big Beautiful Bill.” Describing its goals, Pfluger said: “This legislation is a major win for American energy dominance – ensuring affordable energy for all American consumers, creating thousands of jobs across the country, and putting our country back on the path to energy independence.”
The bill reverses several previous administration initiatives by rescinding funding aimed at greenhouse gas reduction and repealing subsidies from what he termed “the wrongfully named ‘Inflation Reduction Act.’” It also eliminates a natural gas tax for 10 years and allocates funds toward refilling low reserves in SPR.
Further provisions include investments in reliable power generation intended both for grid security and maintaining U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence development. The legislation reinstates quarterly oil and gas lease sales onshore while requiring at least 30 offshore lease sales in Gulf waters over 15 years.
Pfluger summarized: “The list goes on, but the bottom line is clear: the One Big Beautiful Bill cuts Biden-era red tape, incentivizes energy production, supports energy workers, and supports a pro-energy America.”
August Pfluger has served as U.S. Representative for Texas’s 11th District since 2021 after replacing Mike Conaway. He won his seat by defeating Jon Mark Hogg with nearly 80% of votes in 2020.
