“This Christmas, Americans will pay the lowest gas prices in five years. Across the country, families are feeling the relief that comes from returning to common sense energy policies… America is an energy superpower. Under Republicans, we are finally acting like it again.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, today spoke on the Senate Floor about the impact of unleashing affordable, available, reliable American energy.

Senator Barrasso also spoke about President Trump’s address to the nation and the lower prices reported in this morning’s inflation data. 

Click HERE to watch Senator Barrasso’s remarks.

Sen. Barrasso’s remarks:

“I come to the Floor today hearing the Minority Leader talking about the President’s address to the nation last night. I listened carefully to what the President had to say, and I thought he did an outstanding job explaining what a difference a year makes. Because what the President inherited, Republicans inherited, when we took over after Joe Biden and the Democrats had been in charge, our country was weaker, our country was poorer, our country was less safe. What we’ve seen is a complete reversal over the last year with a focus on significant changes.

“At the border, where we now have a secure border. Most secure it’s been in years and years and even decades. A huge difference on energy. We’re right now going into the Christmas season. Gasoline prices are at the lowest they’ve been in five years. Complete change in taxes, where the Democrats wanted to raise taxes on American families by $5 trillion. Instead, this year, as we go into next year, people are going to see a dramatic difference in lower taxes, impacting how much money they have in their pockets. And a dramatic change in national security. We now have peace through strength, and we didn’t have that over the last administration.

“And then, on top of all these things, President Trump announced something called a ‘Warrior Dividend.’ That’s going to give $1,776 to each and every one of our brave men and women in uniform, and there are over a million of them right now. And what a gift, and what a bonus, to thank them for their service. Oh, yes, we are dramatically changing the direction of this country. We’re getting America back on track.

“And Mr. President, just this morning, we got additional good news. It’s the latest inflation report. The inflation has slowed in November to 2.7 percent, and that is lower than anything anyone expected. That’s a reflection of the work that we’re doing. Core inflation was the lowest since March of 2021 – that’s when Joe Biden and the Democrats came into office, and we faced 40-year high inflation. That’s what the American people suffered through under four years of Biden and the Democrats. This is good news for consumers. It’s good news for Main Street. It’s good news for the country.

“The evidence is undeniable. Republicans are getting America back on track.

“This Christmas, Americans will pay the lowest gas prices in five years. Across the country, families are feeling the relief that comes from returning to common sense energy policies. For years, consumers struggled with sky-high energy prices. Gas prices hit $5 per gallon. Diesel prices were even higher. I’ll never forget the day Joe Biden told his Environmental Protection Agency to prioritize climate over energy that was affordable, available, and reliable. That era is over. By unleashing energy that is affordable, available, and reliable Republicans are making America safer and more prosperous.

“A vital piece of American energy dominance is clean American coal. A few months ago, President Trump declared that American clean coal is essential for our nation’s safety and prosperity. As part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, Republicans in Congress lowered the royalty rate for coal production on federal lands. The old, higher tax rate risked keeping coal in the ground. Lower rates mean higher production. This is good for Wyoming and good for America. Wyoming is America’s energy breadbasket. Our Powder River Basin produces nearly half the coal in America. It is the cleanest-burning coal in the world.

“More production means affordable energy. More production means more revenue for Wyoming schools. More production means more certainty for decades into the future. More production means more good paying jobs.

“Joe Biden tried to cripple clean coal production. His administration imposed the punishing Buffalo Resource Management Plan on Wyoming – a plan to stop mining of American coal. Republicans used the Congressional Review Act to restore sanity to energy production. Now, Wyoming coal producers in the Power River Basin can provide the coal needed to power the country. As a result, miners see a brighter future. Coal production is now up six percent since last year.

“Another critical piece of American energy superiority is nuclear energy. Last year, the Senate passed my bill to ban the import of Russian uranium. President Trump is also supporting uranium production and nuclear energy as part of his all-of-the-above strategy. Uranium production in America is now booming. My home state of Wyoming is the second largest producer of uranium in America. Our production has increased nearly 100 percent since last year. Because of Republican policies, production facilities that were once dormant are now ramping up. That’s because they have the certainty of business. Nuclear energy fuels 20 percent of American electricity. We need it. More power from all energy sources will bring affordable electricity prices in the future.

“Republicans also ended the Electric Vehicle Mandate. We got rid of the $7,500 government subsidies to buy electric cars. When California tried to control what cars Americans could drive, we stepped in and we stopped them. Electric vehicles are vehicles Americans don’t want and can’t afford. We were not going to allow California to force feed us. Now, Americans are back in the driver’s seat.

“Republicans also removed Green New Deal regulations. We did it throughout the entire government. Taxpayers saved billions of dollars. Additionally, Republicans repealed the Biden-era tax on natural gas. That saves Americans money when they heat their home. Republicans rolled back Biden-era regulations on home appliances. Now Americans have the freedom to purchase the appliances that work best for them, their families, and their budgets.

“The contrast is dramatic. Senate Democrats have no plan and no desire to make energy more affordable. Democrats may talk about affordability, yet energy costs are highest in their home states. In Senator Schumer’s home state of New York, electricity prices are up 36 percent over the last six years. New York energy prices are 44 percent higher than the national average. In California, electricity prices are up 58 percent in five years. Democrats ought to take responsibility for the higher prices their policies caused.

“Affordable, reliable American energy is a necessity, not a luxury. It is good for our workers. It is good for our economy. It is good for our safety and security. America is an energy superpower. Under Republicans, we are finally acting like it again.”

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