4 days ago
Governor Abbott promotes West Texas growth with new bills
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Governor Greg Abbott made a stop in Midland Thursday, joined by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick, Senator Kevin Sparks, Representative Tom Craddick, Representative Brooks Landgraf, Midland Mayor Lori Blong, and other state and local officials and energy leaders, to sign a series of bills passed during the 89th regular legislative session. Abbott said these bills will safeguard Texas' robust oil and gas industry and spur economic growth across West Texas.
'Today is a defining moment for the Permian Basin, for the future of this region, as well as for the future of Texas,' Governor Abbott said.
'The Permian Basin, what we like to call the land out of the high sky and where the sky is the limit. It's a land of purpose, a land of promise. It's a place where of unlimited opportunity for all who dream big, work hard, and never give up,' Evans.
In West Texas, oil and gas are king.
'I like to call the people of West Texas people with a compassionate heart and a rocket engine. I like to call it the largest secure supply of energy in the world, which it is,' governor Abbott said.
The Permian Basin produces more that six million barrels of oil every day.
'The Permian Basin is the lifeblood of Texas. It's the lifeblood that quite literally powers our engines, but equally literally that powers our economy,' Governor Abbott said.
But being the highest-producing oil field in the US comes at a cost.
'Many of you all have complained about oil field theft and for a good reason. It's on the rise and it's very costly,' the Governor said.
Oil field theft has hit the Basin hard. Law enforcement officials said more than $2,000,000 worth of stolen equipment has been seized this year alone.
'Your Senator and Representatives got three laws to my desk to fix that,' Governor Abbott said.
First, House Bill 48 will establish an oil field theft prevention unit within the Texas Department of Public Safety.
'The second is Senate Bill 498 by Senator Sparks, sponsored in the House by Representative Landgraf. It establishes the Theft of Petroleum Products Task Force,' Governor Abbott said of another bill signed today.
The third, Senate Bill 1806, will allow police to confiscate petroleum products that have been stolen.
'It creates a program to inspect oil and gas tankers for possible theft, and it increases criminal penalties for theft of petroleum products in Texas,' the Governor said. 'The crackdown on oil theft in Texas is now law.'
Another bill signed today addressed the demand for economic growth in the Basin.
'Having been the governor of the state, it's ranked number one in the United States for economic development. Not once, not twice, but actually 13 years in a row, Texas has been the national champion for economic development,' Governor Abbott said.
To foster that growth, he signed Senate Bill 529.
'It's a program that will help Midland to boost hotel and convention projects and to attract more tourists and businesses to your great city.'
Leadership within the Tall City said the bill will help keep local dollars here.
'Over the last few years, we've seen so much of the revenue coming from oil and gas and from other things going out of the Permian Basin and really resourcing the rest of the state budget,' said Mayor Blong. 'I often think of the Permian Basin as the goose that lays the golden egg for the state of Texas and if they want us to continue to be able to lay those golden eggs, then they're going to have to invest in our infrastructure, they're going to have to invest in our local economy, they're going to have to invest in the health care and public safety and education of our students.'
Now that these critical bills have been signed into law, Governor Abbott said locals will start to see some changes.
'It's going to transform the entire Permian Basin region for decades if not a century,' he said.
One thing that Governor Abbott wanted to make clear to all- our local lawmakers were essential in making these changes happen.
'You all are fortunate to have representatives who deliver on solutions to the problems you face, so give it up for Speaker Craddock, Senator Sparks, and Representative Landgraf and Representative Darby for everything they have done to get things across the finish line,' he said.
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