API Supports Pro-Job Legislation To Encourage Education And Energy Workforce Training

API President and CEO Jack Gerard recently delivered the following testimony at a U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on the 21st Century Energy Workforce Development Jobs Initiative Act of 2014:

“The unprecedented opportunity created by America’s 21st century energy renaissance is a direct result of technical advances in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. If we seize this moment in our history and work together on energy policies that promote safe and responsible development of our nation’s enormous energy resources, America can be a global energy superpower for generations that creates and supports millions of well-paying oil and natural gas jobs far into the future.

“API strongly supports this legislation as future generations are counting on us to implement policies that promote educational achievement, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math. It will largely be those subjects that determine who will benefit most in the 21st century.”

To better understand the scope and reach of the economic opportunity the oil and natural gas industry could provide the nation, API commissioned IHS Global to examine potential job opportunities through 2030. The report, “Minority and Female Employment in the Oil & Gas and Petrochemical Industries,” estimates that over 950,000 job opportunities could be created by 2020 and nearly 1.3 million job opportunities through 2030 across the country in the oil and natural gas and petrochemicals industry. In order to be competitive for all 1.3 million jobs, certain education and workforce training must occur.

The bill, H.R. 4526, was introduced by Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) and cosponsored by Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), and Congressman Gene Green (D-Texas).

About API
API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 600 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 20 million Americans.