Senator Richard Shelby is the senior United States Senator from the State of Alabama. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and is currently in his sixth term. Senator Shelby is the current vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, of which he previously served as chairman. He is a senior member on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, as well as the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, of which he is the longest-serving member in the history of the committee. He also serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
America’s energy independence is vital to the future success of our nation. I have long supported an all-of-the-above approach to energy development from energy sources that are both environmentally sound and economically feasible. This includes expanding our use of domestic oil, natural gas, solar, wind, and geothermal power capabilities, among others. All of these policies must be part of a comprehensive, market-based plan to make the United States energy secure.
Energy resources from around the globe are often subject to volatile conditions from foreign actors that do not always have the best interest of the United States in mind. Therefore, lessening our dependence on foreign oil and acquiring energy from our own resources plays an important role in our national security. I have always and will continue to support common sense policy to ensure that we are on track to produce the energy that our nation needs.