In an Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) grilled Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan regarding the EPA's overreach of its environmental authority to limit the oil & gas industry.
 
Click here to view the full remarks or read highlights and excerpts below.

Pfluger: “I speak for 750,000 constituents that are extremely worried about the overreach and the attack and assault on American energy. The single greatest prevention of loss of life over the past decade has been from the Permian Basin, which has helped a billion people worldwide extend their lives and lift them out of poverty.
 
“Last summer, the EPA released a regulatory agenda which included the consideration of re-designation of ozone attainment in the Permian Basin. If this is finalized, it would impose serious regulatory burdens. In fact, the White House today just released their priorities for infrastructure and energy, and one of them says: ‘Prioritizing community engagement.’ Administrator, I've sent six letters asking for a meeting with the Region 6 Director, Dr. Nance, and do you know how many of those requests have come back answered to me? Zero. Unacceptable. That's not community engagement.
 
“I expect after this hearing today that we will get a call from Ms. Nance. Is the EPA considering a redesignation regarding ozone non-attainment in the Permian Basin?”
 
Regan: “I'd have to look into that. Obviously, that's a Region 6 issue.”
 
Pfluger: “But you're the EPA Administrator.”
 
Regan: “I have regional administrators for a reason.”
 
Pfluger: “This is the most prolific area of energy production in the entire world. If it were not for the Permian Basin, this country and the world would have serious problems. That's very disheartening for you to not know the answer to that.” 
 
“My constituents are extremely worried about the overreach. Congress sets laws, and unelected bureaucrats, to my knowledge, have not been to my district in at least five years. We've gone back and haven't seen an EPA administrator or director do the community engagement.
 
“My constituents, who are lowering the cost of energy and doing the work, are at risk. The entire country is at risk. But they have not been engaged in this. They have not been consulted, and that's very troublesome.
 
“Energy Security is national security. The Permian Basin deserves to have a fair shake when it comes to producing energy. We know how to do it better than anywhere else. And it's critical that the EPA doesn’t overreach. There's a lot of potential for good here, but when you don't communicate with us, and you don't engage with us, we can't work together.”