WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) announced that he would be bringing Chad Hathaway, owner and founder of independent oil company Hathaway, LLC headquartered in Bakersfield, California as his guest to the State of the Union. The oil and gas industry is the backbone of the Kern county economy and is responsible for billions of dollars in state and local tax revenue that funds vital community services like public schools, hospitals, and law enforcement. Kern county is the leading energy provider for the state of California, and the #7 oil-producing county in the nation.

“President Biden’s regulatory assault on American energy production has been devastating for all Americans’ pocketbooks. These policies have been especially harmful for my constituents in the Central Valley, who were paying over six dollars a gallon for gas over the summer, and during the winter saw their monthly energy bills skyrocket because of high natural gas prices," said Congressman Valadao. “America has some of the greatest energy resources of any nation in the world – we should be using these resources to create jobs, strengthen our national security, and bring prices down. Instead, this administration has created a regulatory nightmare for domestic energy producers like Chad. I am honored to have Chad Hathaway join me as my guest to this year’s State of the Union to highlight the impacts of President Biden’s energy policies on the Central Valley.”

“I want to thank Congressman Valadao for having me here. For a self-made oilman from East Bakersfield this is an incredible experience, and I hope I can reiterate to as many people as possible how detrimental bad energy policy is, especially to the poor. Secretary Granholm and the Biden Administration have adopted the California model of energy policy and are on a path to destroy affordable energy, high paying jobs, and energy security.

“In California there has not been a single Federal oil and gas lease sale since President Biden took office. Extreme Federal and State regulations have reduced the refining capacity on the West Coast by 50% putting a huge strain on the competitive supply of petroleum products. California is on an energy island and is completely reliant on energy imports from other nations and adjacent states. California has the most expensive energy prices in the nation, and I can assure you by following our lead, as the Biden Administration is doing it will only lead to the same result for our country.