WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) spoke on the Senate Floor today, urging his colleagues to promote American energy production.  Click here to view his remarks. 

 On Tuesday, Wicker voted against raising taxes on American energy production.  With gas prices close to $4.00 per gallon, Wicker highlighted the importance of unlocking America’s resources to meet our needs.  Excerpts from Senator Wicker’s remarks follow:

“Energy independence -- a goal we all share -- can only be achieved through conservation, innovation, and domestic exploration, but domestic exploration must be a part of this in order for us to obtain independence.

“According to a 2009 report by the CRS, America's combined recoverable natural gas, oil, and coal endowment is the largest on Earth. It is far larger than the reserves of Saudi Arabia, China, and Canada. We have the resources to meet our energy needs. I point out again that this is the independent Congressional Research Service that tells us this.

“Closely related to this issue is the one of job creation in America -- one that we should all be interested in with the unemployment rate currently at 9 percent. America's oil and natural gas industry is responsible for 9.2 million jobs in this country. I know the people who have those jobs are proud to have them. I know the families who are supported by those jobs are proud of their family members who work in this industry. Wouldn't it be great if we can expand that 9.2 million to a higher figure?”

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