Identified by Time Magazine as “one of the sharpest minds in the House,” Tom Cole is currently serving in his tenth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the outset of his service in Congress, Cole was named one of the "Five Freshmen to Watch" by Roll Call. In 2016, he was recognized by Newsmax as the “hardest working member in Congress.” He was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2017.
Cole is recognized as a tireless advocate for taxpayers and small businesses, supporter of a strong national defense and leader in promoting biomedical research. He is considered the foremost expert in the House on issues related to Native Americans and tribal governments.
America is a country rich in energy resources and emerging technologies, and I support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that encourages domestic production, reduces our dependency on foreign oil and explores alternative energy solutions.
Oil and natural gas production has shaped Oklahoma’s economy since shortly after statehood, and it continues to do so today. While I am supportive of our traditional energy producers and protective of the thousands they employ, I have also supported tax credits that promote renewable energy development—like wind power—and incentivize consumers to use renewable and alternative fuels.
Hampering domestic energy production is not the path towards a robust economy and job growth. Under previous administrations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) worked to formulate a national plan to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Such drastic changes in energy policy would have had damaging consequences on our economy, including a dramatic increase in electricity prices. I am committed to working to roll back these disastrous policies and replace them with commonsense regulations that will protect our environment, while not hurting small energy producing companies that help promote Oklahoma’s economy.