In the
Pledge to America, Republicans promised to craft legislation out in the open in committees not behind closed doors in the Speaker’s office with input from both parties. The
American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act(H.R. 7), which removes barriers to energy production to help create more than a million new jobs, is the latest example of the Pledge in action.
For example, portions of H.R. 7 have been considered in five different House committees. Republicans and Democrats have had the opportunity to offer, debate, accept and reject amendments. The hearings were streamed live online and the bill will be posted on docs.House.gov in a searchable format for several days before a final vote — above and beyond the new three day requirement.
As Speaker Boehner said in his address to the opening session of the 112th Congress, the House works best when it is allowed to work its will. Heres the House at work on the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act:
- Energy & Commerce: Adopted provisions requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve the Keystone XL pipeline within 30 days. Keystone will create tens of thousands of jobs and has broad support from lawmakers, job creators, and the American people. [READ MORE]
- Natural Resources: Approved several initiatives removing barriers to American energy production that will create more than a million new private-sector jobs. These include lifting the president’s ban on offshore energy exploration, opening a small portion of ANWR to exploration, and developing a clear set of rules for the development of U.S. oil shale which has six times the energy of Saudi Arabias proven reserves. [READ MORE]
- Oversight & Government Reform: Adopted common-sense reforms to the federal employee pension system to help pay for near-term infrastructure improvements while expanded energy production comes on line. The reforms apply to all three branches of government, including Members of Congress, and help ensure H.R. 7 doesnt add a penny to the debt. [READ MORE]
- Transportation & Infrastructure: Approved reforms that speed up the bureaucratic approval process by cutting red tape; eliminate and consolidate dozens of federal infrastructure programs; and embrace more private sector involvement in the construction and repair of our roads and bridges all without the earmarks that have been commonplace in highways bills of the past. [READ MORE]
- Ways & Means: Adopted reforms to the Highway Trust Fund that direct 100 percent of highway resources to highway projects not beautification, bike paths, and other non-economic activity. These also give states the flexibility and resources they need to improve high-priority infrastructure. [READ MORE]
In short, this is a different kind of jobs bill that has been crafted far differently than bills in the previous Democratic-controlled House. The failed stimulus spending bill was made public just hours before it was rushed to a vote; H.R. 7 will be available online in a machine-readable format for several days. ObamaCare was written by Democratic leaders who refused to broadcast negotiations and forbid Republican amendments; H.R. 7 has been written and debated out in the open with input from both parties.
Learn more about this bill on Speaker.gov/Energy and check out the Republican Plan for Americas Job Creators and the nearly 30 House-passed jobs bills delayed by Senate Democrats at jobs.GOP.gov.
