Gabriel (Gabe) Vasquez

Mr. VASQUEZ

Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. VASQUEZ. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer an amendment to H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act. My amendment removes the needless, burdensome paperwork for Federal agencies and simply says that the Department of Energy should seek to stock the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with American-produced energy. This will help Americans, including my constituents who commute hours--countless hours--every day across our expansive State, save money at the gas pump. If the goal is to support American workers, then my amendment to prioritize existing American production is the answer. If the point of this legislation is to support American workers in the energy industry, many of whom are in the Permian Basin in New Mexico, then I urge my colleagues to support my amendment. Pass my amendment to prioritize domestic energy over reliance on foreign nations because the reality is that the bill before us today adds more government bureaucracy and more needless paperwork. Why would we pass a bill that would delay using the SPR in the times of our country's greatest need? The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a critical tool to ensure that Americans don't pay for these global energy shocks. H.R. 21 is a bill to make Americans pay higher prices for longer. This doesn't make sense. Last week, as I mentioned, I was in my district, traveling across the vast district almost the size of the State of Pennsylvania, and I heard directly from my constituents, from energy officials, from folks that are in Carlsbad and Hobbs, and I know what it means to support American workers. Mr. Chair, if we want to support our workers we should pass my amendment, to guarantee that the first place we turn to restock the SPR is right here in the United States, without the needless paperwork. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.