Last month, the American Energy Alliance released the 2024 American Energy Scorecard for the House of Representatives. The AEA scorecard scores voting and co-sponsorship decisions on legislation affecting energy and environmental policy, educating voters on how their representatives vote and holding members accountable for those decisions.
The scorecard is guided by principles such as:
- Promoting affordable, abundant, and reliable energy
- Expanding economic opportunity and prosperity, particularly for working families and those on fixed incomes
- Giving Americans, not Washington bureaucrats, the power to make their own energy choices
- Encouraging private sector innovation and entrepreneurship
- Advancing market-oriented energy and environment policies
- Reducing the role of government in energy markets
- Eliminating the subsidies, mandates, and special interest giveaways that lead to higher energy costs
This year’s American Energy Scorecard compiled 21 votes from the 118th Congress. 90 House members achieved a 100% score.
While many members failed to achieve a perfect score for various reasons, the most concerning scores came from those representing districts where the energy industry is a major economic driver and job creator. One of these members is Rep. Gabe Vasquez, whose New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District includes the southern half of New Mexico and a sizable portion of the Permian Basin – one of the most prolific oil & gas basins in the United States.
Rep. Vasquez did not just score poorly. His 19% score placed him near the bottom of the body along with extreme anti-energy members like Green New Deal creator Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Vasques is clearly out of step with his constituents in the 2nd district. His voting record might pass in New York City, but it’s not acceptable for his energy-producing district.
It also cannot be considered an accident. AEA notifies all members in advance of votes that will be scored. A member disagreeing with AEA’s position on one or two votes might be understandable, but Rep. Vasquez shows a consistent record of votes that restrict Americans’ access to affordable and reliable energy. His record of voting against the interests of his constituents should be on the minds of voters in 2024.