Nebraska Panhandle News

U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts discussed the significance of American energy production in international diplomacy during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. He emphasized its role in competing with Communist China.

"Last month, I hosted a bipartisan tabletop exercise with Senator Coons, simulating a Communist Chinese energy quarantine of Taiwan," said Ricketts. "That exercise confirmed one of Taiwan’s biggest vulnerabilities, which is energy insecurity. But it’s not just about Taiwan, this is something that applies to all our allies in the region, who are nearly just as vulnerable in relying on seaborne energy imports in such a crisis… The most immediate answer to this problem for us is to increase our exports of LNG. We are the world’s top exporter with clean and reliable gas, it’s already helping our allies replace coal, reduce their emissions, and increase their energy resilience."

The hearing also considered several nominations: Jacob Helberg for Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; Paul Kapur for Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs; Andy Puzder for Ambassador to the EU; Benjamin Black for CEO of DFC; and Howard Brodie for Ambassador to Finland.

Earlier this month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation trip to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue conference alongside Senator Tammy Duckworth. Last month saw another trip led by Ricketts to Taiwan and the Philippines with Senators Chris Coons and Ted Budd. As chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia Subcommittee, Senators Ricketts and Coons are working together to support allies in the region against Communist China's aggression through initiatives like a recent tabletop exercise and introducing the PORCUPINE Act and COUNTER Act.