A leader in the U.S. congressional effort
to pass a comprehensive national energy policy will speak to geologists
at the AAPG Annual Meeting to be held March 10-13 in Houston.
Rep.
Joe Barton, R-Texas, who has committed himself to passing legislation
promoting an environment of high supply, low demand and consumer-friendly
prices, will speak at the All-Convention Luncheon at 11:30 a.m.
Monday, March 11, in the George Bush Grand Ballroom at the George
R. Brown Convention Center.
"It is of the utmost importance that we continue
to expand and improve upon our energy policy, and this process would
not be comprehensive without thoroughly exploring the availability
and quality of our domestic natural resources," Barton told the
EXPLORER.
"As demand continues to increase, we must increase
our supply utilizing the most efficient methods and available resources."
General Chairman Jeff Lund called Barton "a strong
advocate of increasing U.S. energy supply to promote energy independence.
"He is thoroughly familiar with our industry," Lund
said, "is an excellent public speaker and is one of the prime drivers
behind the Bush Administration energy policy."
Barton currently serves as chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Energy & Air Quality of the House Committee
on Energy & Commerce, the House Science Committee and is a member
of the House Republican Steering Committee, a council that sets
strategy for House Republicans.
He is the author of the first comprehensive energy
policy legislation to pass a House Committee in almost a decade
— the Energy Advancement and Conservation Act.
Barton has represented Texas' 6th District since
1984, which includes Fort Worth, Arlington and the Northeast Tarrant
County area, as well as outlying Metroplex cities and constituents
in Ellis, Dallas, Parker and Johnson counties.
Barton, 52, is a native of Waco, Texas, and earned
a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from Texas A&M
University and a master's from Purdue University. After graduation,
he joined Ennis Business Forms in Ennis, Texas, where he rose to
the position of assistant to the vice president.
In 1981, he was selected for the prestigious White
House Fellows Program and served as an aide to then-Department of
Energy Secretary James B. Edwards. In 1982 he returned to Texas
as a natural gas decontrol consultant for Atlantic Richfield, before
being elected to Congress.
Tickets remaining for the
luncheon will be available for sale at the registration desk at
the Houston meeting.