By Senator Wayne Wallingford, District 27
Missouri Chairman, Vets4Energy
America has paid a heavy price to be independent. Since the nation’s founding, men and women in our armed forces have sacrificed much for our freedoms and quality of life. Most of us take it for granted. Our economy and military might insulate the country from much of the strife that affects other nations that don’t have our resources. But we aren’t insulated from everything.
Energy, and our prodigious appetite for it makes us vulnerable. Our dependence on foreign sources of energy keeps the threat of war on our doorstep – and energy has in some part played a role in our recent wars in the mid-east.
The international political climate is more fragile and unpredictable than it’s ever been; and our reliance on foreign energy resources carries an enormous risk.
That’s why I think it’s important that we elect candidates who support energy policies that will lead America to self-sufficiency and by doing so free ourselves from importing energy from countries that don’t share our values or best interests.
America is rich in safe, reliable energy resources – all of which have made us a world leader in energy production. Problem solved? Not even close. There are those in our country who seek to halt domestic energy production and the development of its supporting infrastructure.
These voices oppose the advancements that will keep America secure by halting the development of new resources and the infrastructure that transports it to market.
The further we fall behind in developing the necessary infrastructure to safely and efficiently deliver energy to our states and communities, the more reliant we will become on other nations to meet our needs.
As a Veteran I know energy independence plays a huge role in our national security. It will keep our sons and daughters in uniform off foreign soil.
