President Donald Trump’s clear and decisive reelection has completely changed the political and policy landscape.
He once again shattered the blue wall, and earned the highest popular vote ever recorded by a Republican presidential candidate, substantially narrowing the gap in states like California, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Illinois. Republicans have also taken control of the Senate and are poised to hold onto the House of Representatives.
Trump promised to dramatically reshape government, foreign policy, national security and especially the economy. The president-elect understands that a sound energy policy is the foundation for all of these.
One of his top campaign promises was to unleash America’s energy potential and lower gasoline and electricity prices for American families. Given all the damage done by the Biden-Harris administration in this area, lasting changes will require more than executive action; they will require the support of Congress.
To facilitate this attention, House Republicans should create an Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The Energy and Commerce Committee is one of the oldest, most respected, and most powerful committees in Congress. But the reality is that it is no longer functional in relation to today’s policy priorities. With nearly 60 members and jurisdiction over five Cabinet-level departments and seven independent agencies, the committee is simply too big, and its focus too diffuse.
A committee with jurisdiction over health care, telecommunications and energy cannot hope to develop and maintain coherent and meaningful expertise in all three areas. Just dealing with the challenges in the healthcare industry and reining in big tech alone will take a considerable amount of the committee’s time and attention in the next two years. Energy policy is too important to be left as a third-tier priority.
For purposes of efficiency and accountability, Congress should consolidate energy policy into one major committee.
The Natural Resources Committee already has jurisdiction over offshore energy production, coal production, water quality and some natural gas production, and shares jurisdiction on many other energy issues with Energy and Commerce. Unlike Energy and Commerce, however, the Natural Resources Committee has a clear and defined focus — how to effectively manage the vast resources of the United States. It does not concern itself with telecommunications policy, consumer safety or health care.
Given the importance of getting our energy policy back on track to help lower inflation and improve the economy — Trump’s highest priority — it is time for the House to create the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The newly created committee can then focus on the energy that powers our economy and the resources that are the shared inheritance of all Americans.
Such a committee would provide accountability and, perhaps more importantly, clarity for those who seek to understand and truly reform federal energy policy.
Louisiana Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson is a policy-minded reformer. He understands that good policy is good politics.
But you can’t make good energy policy if you don’t give it the priority and focus it deserves. As part of the rules of the upcoming Congress, the speaker should include this simple, but effective change in committee jurisdiction and create the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
It’s time for the House to take the lead and Make American Energy Great Again!
Thomas J. Pyle is the President of the Institute for Energy Research and cohost of The Unregulated Podcast.
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