ENERGY

We need a comprehensive strategy for our energy needs and end our addiction to foreign oil. We currently import almost 70% of our oil at an annual cost of over $475 billion. Most of this money goes to countries that do not like us and ultimately ends up funding those Islamic extremists bent on our destruction. Therefore, our reliance on foreign oil is not only a massive transference of wealth; it is a national security issue. It is time to put domestic political ideologies aside and pursue an "all of the above" approach. We must step up our domestic oil and gas production, including offshore drilling. Weaning ourselves from foreign oil will also grow our economy and create thousands of new jobs at home. Quite simply, it is a win-win solution for Americans. I propose we set a goal of becoming energy self-sufficient by 2020. While we are pursuing this, let's move forward with long-term renewable solutions such as wind and solar.