US congressional Republicans 'know value of American energy,': House Speaker

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that the country’s energy needs are a "critically important thing" to the US.

"And it's something that the White House seems not to know anything about. House Republicans know the value of American energy, but President (Joe) Biden obviously does not and it's such a such a stark contrast," Johnson said at a news conference alongside other Republicans.

Johnson said Biden, on the first day in office, began to "wage war on our own energy industry and its producers" by killing the Keystone XL Pipeline, demonizing domestic energy producers and depleting the strategic petroleum reserve.

"I'm not even sure he fully understands the implications of some of the executive orders that he's written, but that is what's happened and we all see the effects," he said.

House Republicans are committed to protecting American jobs and unleashing American energy dominance to reduce costs, he said.

"This week, House Republicans will pass the legislation promoting American energy independence and opposing Biden's anti-energy agenda,” said Johnson. “We will continue to denounce President Biden's radical policies. This is a continuation of the pro-American energy agenda that House Republicans have been pursuing and will always pursue.”

House Republicans will stand with American energy and producers for lower energy costs for Americans, the speaker stressed.

Johnson kicked off “energy week” on Monday in the Permian Basin where he met employees of "one of America’s most critical sectors."

He said House Republicans are determined to protect US jobs and stop the "radical, anti-energy agenda" of the Biden administration.