Rep. Graves Introduces Major Energy Independence Plan

Today, U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) and 18 other representatives introduced the Energy Exploration and Production to Achieve National Demand (EXPAND) Act, an all-of-the-above energy independence plan for the United States.

“This is a major energy plan for America that will create thousands of new jobs and keep energy affordable for families,” said Graves. “Using a free market approach, we open our resource-rich land for competition and innovation across the full spectrum of energy sources, from oil to wind and everything in between. That also means eliminating red tape and excessive regulations, transferring more control to the states and ending special interest subsidies while lowering tax rates. I believe this all-of-the-above plan will unleash America’s full industrial might and usher in a new era of prosperity and opportunity for families across the country.”

Click here for a detailed bill summary.

EXPAND Act highlights:

• Approves permits for seismic testing in the Atlantic and opens more of the Outer Continental Shelf for production, including areas in the Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific.
• Opens the Coastal Plain of ANWR, approves the Keystone XL Pipeline, and opens Yucca Mountain to begin receiving nuclear waste.
• Ends the ethanol mandate, prohibits the use of the Social Cost of Carbon in government cost-benefit analyses, and repeals EPA climate change regulations affecting coal production.
• Promotes federalism by allowing states to manage production on BLM and Forest Service land.
• Opens more federal land for wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric.
• Streamlines construction and creation of nuclear energy.
• Reduces both the corporate and 10% individual tax rates by repealing various tax credits in addition to allowing for the immediate deduction of expenditures for energy producers.

In addition to Graves, original co-sponsors of the EXPAND Act are: Reps. Jeff Duncan (lead sponsor, SC-03), Phil Roe (TN-01), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Trey Radel (FL-19), Mick Mulvaney (SC-05), Roger Williams (TX-25), Phil Gingrey (GA-11), Diane Black (TN-06), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Trey Gowdy (SC-04), Randy Weber (TX-14), Ted Poe (TX-02), Jack Kingston (GA-01), Paul Broun (GA-10), Tom Graves (GA-14), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Todd Rokita (IN-04), and Marlin Stutzman (IN-03).