04.02.14

Hoeven Calls for Passage of His Energy Security Package to Create Jobs, Boost Domestic Energy Production, Grow U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today said the best way to address long-term unemployment is by creating jobs, and called for passage of a package of energy legislation that will boost domestic energy production, grow the U.S. economy and create thousands of jobs for the American people. The legislation includes the Energy Security Act, Empower States Act, the Domestic Energy and Jobs Act (DEJA) and Stream Buffer Zone Rule.

“Our energy industry is creating good jobs to help get people back to work, and they can do even more,” said Hoeven. “We can get our economy going and truly address our unemployment challenges with the right kind of pro-growth policies in place. The legislation we offered today will not only create good jobs for our people and grow our economy, but will help to boost energy production and make our nation more energy secure.”

Hoeven introduced the following legislation:

Energy Security Act

The Energy Security Act legislation would approve the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline project and expedite applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG). Senators John Barrasso and Lisa Murkowski joined Hoeven in sponsoring the legislation. Between the Keystone XL pipeline project and LNG exports, the measure could create nearly 100,000 jobs, boost the U.S. economy and aid our allies in Ukraine, NATO and Japan.   

Empower States Act

The Empower States Act would ensure that states retain the right to manage hydraulic fracturing and gives them the ability to respond first to any violations. It includes provisions to prevent loss of jobs or harm to consumers and the economy, to prevent arbitrary regulation from federal authorities and to ensure good environmental stewardship. This legislation recognizes that individual states are the first and best responders to oil and gas issues because they know their land and have a stake in protecting their environment.

Domestic Energy and Jobs Act (DEJA)

DEJA is a wide-ranging package of 12 diverse energy bills that addresses both traditional and renewable development, designed to streamline and simplify regulations, boost domestic energy supplies, build American energy infrastructure and safeguard America’s supply of critical minerals used in modern high-tech manufactured products such as cell phones and computers. It establishes an American energy development plan, an all-of-the-above energy program for federal lands by reviewing the nation’s energy needs and goals for federal land energy production.

Stream Buffer Zone Rule

The Stream Buffer Zone Rule legislation prevents the Department of Interior from moving forward on a new stream buffer zone rule that is overly burdensome and doesn’t recognize differences in geography between states.