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Congressman Gonzalez Leads Letter Cautioning Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer Against Unfairly Targeting American Energy Jobs

September 27, 2021

On Friday, September 24, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) led a letter with Congressmen Filemon Vela (TX-34) and Henry Cuellar (TX-28) urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to reconsider including provisions within the Build Back Better Act that threaten American energy jobs and our ability to compete in the global economy.

"As a Representative for South Texas, I understand how every aspect of the energy industry touches our community, families, and economy," said Congressman Gonzalez. "I wholeheartedly agree that we should support taxation policies that ensure corporations pay their fair share and protect our middle class. Taxing the energy sector and costing Texans jobs is not the right way to go about this."

In the letter the lawmakers wrote:

"The demand for energy will continue to rise, especially as the economy recovers from COVID-19, and while we wait for the technology and infrastructure of the future to emerge, or as solar and wind become more prominent, we should not disadvantage our nation in the name of the cause without real benefit."

They added:

"The Build Back Better Act is rightly aimed to keep our promises in the Paris Accords and combat the growing crisis of climate change. However, the United States has an opportunity to lead the world in responsible energy production while preparing the world for a low carbon future. We urge you to consider the ways in which our tax code can influence the prosperity of our people, and to reconsider some of the revenue raising provisions of this otherwise sound and critical effort."

Read the letter here.

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