The Fly-In provided an opportunity for PESA and attending member companies to develop and strengthen relationships with Congressional offices while telling the story of the oilfield service, supply, and manufacturing sector.
- Attendees met with more than 30 Congressional offices, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), several senators and members of the House of Representatives. Lawmakers representing areas outside the oil patch were a priority.
- Outreach beyond traditional supporters is critical as the activist-driven “Keep it in the Ground” campaign continues to grow. This movement has gained significant attention in the past several months, launching a full-spectrum assault on oil and gas development.
- The recently finalized Well Control Rule, the volume of regulations, and efforts to make hydraulic fracturing more difficult were covered. Fly-In participants emphasized the sector’s shared commitment to innovation, safety, and reducing operational footprint.
For meetings with lawmakers and staff, Fly-In attendees split into three separate groups, meeting with multiple offices in the House of Representatives on Monday, May 23rd and Senate offices on Tuesday, May 24th. In the afternoon on Monday, all participants met with the top energy policy staffers from the offices of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“I can’t say enough about how much I enjoyed the DC Fly-in. The staff did an amazing job of arranging the accommodations and coordinating the event. It was so much more than I was anticipating. I expected to be more of a tourist than a lobbyist, but it was the opposite. We had engaging and substantive conversations with members of Congress and their staff. It was outstanding!”
– Quay McKnight, M&M International
Prior to meeting with lawmakers on Monday, attendees heard from a panel of Washington-based representatives from ConocoPhillips, Murphy Oil, and Chesapeake Energy. The status of specific regulations and legislation, as well as the overall policy and political landscape in Washington regarding the oil and gas industry were topics during the discussion, which also included plenty of time for networking.
At the end of the day’s meetings on Monday, attendees held a reception and dinner in the Capitol Building, where Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX), provided insight on 2015’s effort to lift the crude oil export ban while also discussing the state of play regarding tax and trade issues. |
