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PESA Members Drive Capitol Hill Conversations on Policy, Energy Transition

PESA builds on connections and forges new relationships with key Congressional offices in 2020.

FlyInGroup

Energy transition, workforce and trade were top of mind during the Washington D.C. Fly-In February 10-12.

In attendance were PESA Board Members Matt Armstrong, Baker Hughes; Kevin Crowley, Forged Products; Galen Cobb, Halliburton; Rod Larson, Oceaneering International; and Mike Reeves, Rubicon Oilfield International; as well as Advisory Board Members Jill Massonne, Allison Transmission; Josh Lowrey, Galtway Enterprises; Edward Bayhi, Gardner Denver; Todd Ennenga, Halliburton; Santosh Mathilakath, LoneStar Group; Scott Livingston, NOV Completion & Production Solutions; Doug Polk, Vallourec; and Dave Warnick, Weir Oil & Gas; and PESA Members Julia Price-Madison, Baker Hughes; Valerie Banner, Exterran; Pat Sibille, Frank’s International; Will Li, Li Gear; Mike Scott, Pelican Energy Partners; James Prince, Schlumberger; Bruce Miller, Schlumberger; Nick Krohn, Schlumberger; Chris Powell, Solaris Oilfield Infrastructure; Barry Glickman,TechnipFMC; Government Affairs Committee Member Charlie Weakly, TechnipFMC; and Jared Oehring, U.S. Well Services.

CAPITOL HILL VISITS
During the second annual Producing States Lunch, Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-2), Michael Burgess (R-TX-26) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-AL) spoke about the importance of the services and equipment sector to the economies of Texas and North Dakota respectively, and how the sector could respond to increasing regulatory challenges.

The PESA team then headed to Capitol Hill for individual meetings with members of the U.S. House and Senate. In total, attendees visited more than 40 Congressional offices, all of which were strategically scheduled to include a bipartisan group of representatives from producing states, relevant committee placements and a dozen first-time introductions.

PESA Members with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)

Members of Congress from Texas showed bipartisan support for the energy industry in multiple interactions. PESA Members met with Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)  and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) discussing how PESA Members can better message on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and how the sector is a productive part of the energy transition. In Texas, members of Congress showed strong bipartisan support for the energy industry. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-7) spoke about how PESA can engage with members of her caucus, and attendees engaged with the offices of Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), educating them on the services and equipment sector’s efforts in sustainability and cleaner energy development. Members also discussed ways to engage with the administration on tariffs, as well as a future PESA event in the Midland area with Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX-11).

Expanding PESA’s geographic reach, the group met with Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC-5), Ranking Member of the House Education and Labor Committee, to discuss the efforts the sector has been making on diversity and inclusion. Attendees also met with significant portion of Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation including the offices of Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)  and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA-2). Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA-12), Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14) and Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-18) all represent areas with increasing natural gas production and were eager to discuss PESA Member Company presence.

PESA Members met with staff of Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO-2), a freshman whose district includes an area north of Denver and Boulder. His staff was eager to discuss energy transition and the need for fossil fuels for many years to come. They offered to share messaging from PESA regarding the industry’s efforts in sustainability with constituents.

Sen. Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)

Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK-1) took PESA Members with him to the House chambers as he prepared for a vote. Issues including energy transition and jobs were discussed with Hern as members walked the historic halls leading to the House floor and into the Capitol Rotunda. Vice President Mike Pence was spotted as attendees made their way to the Senate side of the Hill.

Industry efforts to address climate change were discussed with staff from the offices of Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Rep. Tom Cole (ROK-4) met with PESA Members and shared his thoughts on trade. During a meeting with Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-2), water recycling and reuse was discussed. The Congresswoman, who is a water attorney, asked questions related to uses of the water in production activities.

BRIEFINGS HIGHLIGHT COMPONENTS OF ENERGY POLICY-MAKING
Fly-In attendees receive extensive information during their two-day visit to Washington D.C. from meeting Congressional Members and through briefings.

Bob Moran, FTI Consulting

Bob Moran, FTI Consulting

Opening the discussions on Tuesday, Bob Moran, Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of the Government Relations, FTI Consulting, focused on “The New Political Structure” and how current policies and candidates affect the energy industries in the United States. Politics, as Moran put it, is in the middle of capital markets, commercial markets and the courts. Therefore, the energy industry and its regulations also succumb to pressures from those three components. During his briefing, Moran emphasized the need to proactively message on innovation and ESG initiatives, especially as it related to capital markets.

Francis Brooke, Special Assistant to the President – Economic Policy, National Economic Council, highlighted the Trump Administration’s current international and domestic energy policy, including how the newly-signed USMCA will benefit the oil and gas industries.

Closing out Tuesday’s briefings, Joseph Uddo, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Market Development and Energy Innovation, U.S. Department of State, spoke about how members could support the administration by providing support during Congressional hearings in the form of evidence and data. He also emphasized the position of the United States as the top emissions reducer and how more practitioners and scientists from the field can share that information locally and globally.

Director Scott Angelle

BSEE Director Scott Angelle

Wednesday briefings included Sarah Ladislaw, Senior Vice President, Director and Senior Fellow, Energy and National Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies, who focused the conversation on the story of energy transition and natural gas. Ladislaw emphasized that energy and economic development goals at the state and local levels are increasingly relevant to the industry, as they can be leveraged into opportunities for partnership. She also warned that targeted divestment strategies and low oil prices can make the industry vulnerable. Additionally, she pointed to the International Energy Agency’s Gas 2019 report and how natural gas will contribute positively to communities internationally and to cleaner energy supplies.

Scott Angelle, Director, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, focused on how the agency’s work supports oil production through new information sharing, text messaging services around safety and regulatory reform efforts.

CONGRESSIONAL FACILITY TOURS
Congressional Representatives and offices were invited to visit PESA Member Company facilities throughout the United States. These events are valuable opportunities to build relationships with officials at various levels of government and showcase the sector’s impact in communities. The majority of the tours hosted in 2019 were directly coordinated through the 2019 Fly-In visits.

ENERGY CONNECTION
The launch of PESA’s magazine “Energy Connection Magazine” serves as a platform for the oilfield equipment and services sector to educate and elevate crucial messaging. Attendees highlighted the Congressional Spotlight of the first volume which featured Sen. John Cornyn of Texas to perspective offices. Spotlights allow Congressional Members to connect with constituents in the energy industries about their committee work and important legislation.

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