Randy's Wrap-UpRussia Funneled Cash to Anti-Fossil Fuel Climate Extremists  Russia Funneled Cash to Anti-Fossil Fuel Climate Extremists Why did the West fail to deter Russia from invading Ukraine? Because we were lost in soft, renewable energy delusions while Putin was grounded in the hard physical reality of nuclear, oil, & natural gas. The West’s green delusions empowered Putin; While we banned plastic straws, Russia drilled and doubled nuclear energy production. I have been sounding the alarm on Russia's attack on fossil fuels since back in 2017! For years Russian-backed organizations have been spreading Green New Deal propaganda throughout the West to ensure Putin had the upper hand when it comes to energy production. In 2017 I sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin as part of an investigation undertaken by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to shine a light on how the Kremlin plotted to fund radical environmental groups inside the United States to shift public opinion and policy away from fossil fuels and energy independence. Read the letter HERE and the full report HERE. President Joe Biden's continued dismissal of domestic energy sources during his first year in office likely played right into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has allegedly been providing covert active support to "green energy" activist groups around the globe for years in a bid to keep the U.S. — and, more importantly, Europe — addicted to Russian gas. Among these propaganda efforts outlined by the Committee was "a covert anti-fracking campaign to suppress the widespread adoption of fracking in Europe and the U.S.–all in an effort to safeguard the influence of the Russian oil and gas sector" that was funded by "Russia and its government corporations." During her failed presidential campaign, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lamented in a private speech the "phony environmental groups... funded by the Russians to stand against any effort — 'Oh that pipeline, that fracking, that whatever, will be a problem for you' — and a lot of the money supporting that message was coming from Russia" that she encountered during her time as President Obama's Secretary of State. The U.S. intelligence community has also been aware of the anti-fossil fuel propaganda coming from Russia, including an admission in a report about Russia's actions surrounding the 2020 election that found "clear evidence that the Kremlin is financing and choreographing anti-fracking propaganda in the United States." In addition to state-run media, the Kremlin also used non-profit organizations to influence Americans according to the letter from Congress to Secretary Mnuchin. Evidently, Russia's government and connected entities were using a shell company in Bermuda to "funnel tens of millions of dollars to a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) which then passes the funds from Russia to American environmental organizations like the Sierra Club, Conservation Voters Education Fund, and others. Those American non-profits then spend the grants "to execute a political agenda driven by Russian entities" while obscuring the source of the money: Russia. A selection of Russian social media posts included in the Committee's report is more or less indistinguishable from leftist politicians and radical environmental activists. On Facebook, the Kremlin propaganda was posted to pages titled "Born Liberal," "Blacktivist," and "Native Americans United." On Twitter, Russians tweeted links to MoveOn.org petitions and posts on The Root that include anti-fossil fuel posts from Democrat lawmakers. One Russian post included in the report was a simple retweet of Senator Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) condemnation of American pipeline projects. As Russia wages an unjust war against Ukraine, America needs to reverse the destructive anti-fossil fuel narrative. It is time to shift our focus and take the necessary steps to regain our energy independence. House Republicans put the American Energy Independence from Russia Act up for a vote on the House floor, which would jumpstart domestic energy production and increase the supply of oil in the market, but was unfortunately shot down by Democrats. Read the latest articles Russia Funneled Cash to Anti-Fossil Fuel Climate Extremists: 2018 Report Pro-Putin NGO Pushed Green New Deal, Protested Keystone XL Pipeline Gas Prices are Costing You $1,300 What would you do with $1,300? Go on vacation? Save for your kids’ college? Buy some new appliances? Well, under Democrats’ America Last energy policies, the average household will have little choice but to spend $1,300 extra on gas to fill up their cars over the course of the year. Even while writing this, the price of gas just hit an all-time high. It would be politically convenient for Democrats to blame these price surges on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the truth is Democrats’ own policies are responsible for putting America in this position in the first place. On Day One of his presidency, Biden halted the Keystone Pipeline and issued a moratorium on new oil and gas permits on federal lands. And then, in a baffling display of weakness, he gave the green light on a pipeline for Putin. As Leader McCarthy warned on January 26th, 2021, these knee-jerk decisions were sure to “have a damaging effect up and down the energy supply chain.” It didn’t take a crystal ball to see the steady rise in gas prices coming. President Biden's own spokesperson all but admitted that is their intent. In their twisted thinking, the higher gas prices are, the more "justified" their Green New Deal might look by comparison. The worst part is it didn’t have to be this way. When Democrats’ one-party rule started last year, they were handed the keys to an energy-independent America, with average prices at the pump at just $2.53. It’s still possible to get back to that, but judging by Democrats’ vote last week against American energy—it’s ultimately going to take a Republican majority in Congress. Inflation and the Omnibuss The Bureau of Labor Statistics released another alarming inflation report Thursday, showing consumer prices/Inflation has hit 7.9 percent over the past twelve months amid more than $6 trillion of new spending and borrowing by Congress to fight Covid, compounded by the supply chain crisis that was also caused by Covid. After essentially no change in wage growth in February, inflation eroded earnings further with real hourly earnings falling 2.6% over the year and real weekly earnings falling 2.3%. A recent report found that 64% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, which is 12% higher than in April 2021. Beyond inflation’s harmful effects on American families, last week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) noted that higher inflation and corresponding interest rate increases could increase deficits by trillions of dollars, which RPC warned of last year.  And, even with inflation accelerating, Congress is moving another $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill through the House and Senate this week in time for the March 11 deadline, when the current continuing resolution funding the government expires. Wednesday the House of Representatives voted on the Omnibus federal government funding legislation after Congress only received it at 2 a.m. This Omnibus contains an additional 6 percent increase in spending above the planned increases, not including additional Covid and Ukraine spending; it fails to lift any of the vaccine mandates leaving Americans subject to job loss by federal government regulation and bans Russian oil imports while not opening up any avenues for additional domestic oil or even authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline. This decision to not make changes to allow the increase in domestic oil and natural gas production ensures that Russian oil will be replaced by Iranian and/or Venezuelan oil — countries led by two of the worse despots in the world. Even with a government shutdown looming I could not, in good conscience, vote to ignore the continuous attacks on American energy or agree to more reckless spending. I voted NO. Recent Legislation
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The price of gasoline had already hit a record high of $4.17 for a gallon of unleaded on Tuesday, according to AAA. That breaks the previous high of $4.10 a gallon, set in July 2008. President Joe Biden's ban on Russian oil comes as gas prices soared to a record high, leaving Americans to wonder how much more they will have to shell out at the pump and if the move will have its intended effect of discouraging Russia's assault on Ukraine. The president warned that the move would probably increase gas prices in the U.S. but said it was necessary in order to ramp up sanctions pressure on the Russian economy, in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Shell announced Tuesday it would immediately stop buying Russian crude oil and other energy products from the country “in a phased manner.” Energy analysts warn prices could climb as high as $200 a barrel for crude oil after oil sanctions are imposed by the West. At that level, the average price for a gallon of U.S. gasoline could exceed $5, a scenario Biden and other political figures are desperate to avoid. But I want to hear from you! Are you willing to pay more for gas to combat Russian aggression? Yes No Unsure Submit survey to sign up for updates on my work in Congress.* It is a great honor to represent Texas’ Fourteenth District in Congress. We all know that 2020 has brought some challenging times. Please know that we have been and will always be here for you. Call or stop by our offices (which are YOUR offices), if you need help with a federal agency. Bureaucracy often brings red tape, but we know how to cut through it, and we are proud to fight on your behalf. Whether you need help with immigration, IRS, Medicare, Social Security, passports, stimulus checks, small business loans, VA claims, FEMA relief, or other assistance, please call us! We can also help with flags flown over the U.S. Capitol, nominations to the military academies, or tours in Washington D.C. We welcome opportunities to serve you. For assistance or more information, please call or go online or visit weber.house.gov. God Bless you and God Bless Texas! Sincerely, Randy K. Weber
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