ODESSA — State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) has been endorsed for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives by the Texas Oil & Gas Association Good Government Committee, the Texas Alliance Oil & Gas Political Action Committee and the Oil & Gas Workers Association.

“Born and raised in the Permian Basin, I have a deep understanding and appreciation for the importance of the Texas oil and gas industry,” Landgraf said. “As I’ve said many times before, the Permian Basin is the goose that lays the golden egg for Texas. I’m blessed to be able to call the oil patch home and I’ll keep fighting to protect Texas energy jobs no matter what.”

Landgraf was appointed chairman of the powerful House Environmental Regulation Committee in 2021. As chairman, Landgraf killed Green New Deal legislation that would harm the Texas oil and gas industry, refusing to allow any such bill to get a hearing or pass out of his committee.

Landgraf also authored and passed House Bill 4472 to allow industry and innovation to flourish without the threat of shutdown from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Clean Air Activism–policy that allows Texas to balance its environment and economy in a way that’s beneficial to both.

“Those on the left are cutting off their nose to spite their face by attempting to phase out oil and gas production in the name of the environment,” Landgraf continued. “I will not stand idly by as our state and nation are made weaker and more dependent on foreign powers. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander: strengthening the Permian Basin oil and gas industry is in the best interest of the Great State of Texas and the United States of America. Period.”

In addition to passing HB 4472 and killing Green New Deal bills in 2021, Landgraf filed HB 1683 to prohibit any state resources from being used to implement or enforce new federal oil and gas regulations that are not already on the books. HB 1683 passed out of the Texas House of Representatives by a vote of 110 to 33, but failed to pass out of the Senate before the conclusion of the regular session. Landgraf is committed to refiling the legislation in 2023. 

“Energy independence is within our grasp, and we owe it to everyone from our Founding Fathers to future generations yet unborn to achieve this goal. I’ll keep my nose to the grindstone, using that work ethic I learned growing up in dusty, hot West Texas to protect Permian Basin jobs and secure energy independence for our children’s children,” Landgraf concluded.