(Houston, TX) – Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced her bipartisan call to Congressional leadership to ensure additional relief legislation addresses the unique challenges facing the people who work in the energy industry. 

In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the members highlight the challenges facing their constituents and people across the country who work in the industry.

“We know from previous economic aid efforts that any COVID-19 relief package must protect all hard-working Americans. The effects of COVID-19 will be felt across the economy. But they will be particularly acute in the energy sector,” the members wrote.

They continued: “The dramatic reduction in production coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic leaves these hard-working men and women with an unprecedented challenge.”

The members also reminded leadership of the scale of the challenge: “A 2017 PriceWaterhouseCoopers study showed that the oil and gas industry supported 10.3 million jobs and was responsible for 5.6 percent of total U.S. employment.” 

Congresswoman Fletcher was joined by Representatives Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Al Green (TX-09), Brian Babin (TX-36), Kendra Horn (OK-05), and Marc Veasey (TX-33).

The full text of the letter is available here.