Pelican State News

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-TX) joined more than 180 leaders nationwide in signing the Declaration of Energy Independence, according to a press release issued by The Empowerment Alliance (TEA).

The declaration has so far been signed by 16 U.S. representatives, 15 state attorneys general, three governors, more than 20 political candidates and more than 50 local state officials, TEA reported.

The purpose of the declaration is for the United States to become energy-independent via affordable, clean energy.

"American innovation and development of our natural resources like natural gas have enabled us to become the largest economy in the world and a model for other nations,” Scalise said in the release. “I am proud to sign The Empowerment Alliance’s Declaration of Energy Independence and look forward to continuing to work in Congress to remove barriers for all Americans to have access to clean, low-cost natural gas.”

The Declaration also strives for an abundance of energy for Americans in the future, noting in the release that it hopes to have a continuous 100-year supply of natural gas with the potential for more.

"Recent news that the Atlantic Pipeline has been scrapped is a reminder of what is at stake if we fail to capitalize on our domestic energy advantage,” Jim Nathanson, executive director for TEA, said in the release. “The fact that our movement is growing shows that people understand the risk of squandering our once in a lifetime opportunity to jumpstart the American economy and strengthen our national security through low-cost, abundant, domestic natural energy.”

Nathanson also said that the campaign launched after TEA witnessed other special interest groups promoting opposite energy ideas that the agency feels will threaten the country's national security, according to TEA.

TEA wants to maintaine U.S. dominance by ensuring the country is no longer dependent on global markets or hostile countries, according to the Daily Caller.