U.S. Representative August Pfluger (TX-11) delivered an impassioned speech on the House Floor in defense of American energy producers.

Watch his remarks here, or read a full transcript below.

“Madam Speaker,

I rise today to oppose the previous question so that we can immediately pass the American Energy Independence from Russia Act.

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers for her leadership on this.

Really, the question is simple. I think we’re missing the point.

The question here is: is the President of the United Sates going to pick America, or is he going to pick our enemies?

That is the debate.

Step one [banning Russian oil imports] is great, and I am glad that we are going to support Ukraine. I was there five weeks ago. We need to support Ukraine.

Step two—is we need the President to support America.

Energy security is National security.

Mr. President, it’s time to put Midland over Moscow.

Unfortunately, that security has been under assault for decades, but most recently beginning on January 20^th of 2021. The Administration is leading the assault on energy.

The reality is that American energy is the cleanest in the world. But the President, and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to acknowledge that fact and unleash [it]. Instead, they are choosing, the President is choosing our adversaries—terrorists—and begging them to produce more, when we could do it right here.

Instead of calling the 10 million Americans who do it every single day, we are outsourcing production to adversaries like Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and they’re harming our environment even more.

The war on Ukraine is horrifying and heartbreaking. When I sat with President Zelensky, he said that the impetus to invade his country came from the fact that Nord Stream [II] existed.

Our President greenlighted Nord Stream [II] but cancelled the Keystone [XL] pipeline.

Right now, today, there are six LNG terminals that the President, with a stroke of a pen, could approve. Are we going to pick the United States of America or are we going to pick our adversaries?

The United States of American should not be energy dependent, we should be energy dominant.

Put Midland Over Moscow. Resume the Keystone [XL] pipeline, unleash American LNG, restart oil and gas leasing on federal lands, and protect our own country. Pick our own country.

With that, I yield back.”