WASHINGTON, December 15, 2016 – API President and CEO Jack Gerard released the following statement on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nomination of U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to be the next Secretary of the Interior.

“As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and a fifth generation Montanan, Congressman Zinke knows the great potential that our federal lands hold when it comes to developing our nation’s energy resources, and he knows that this is good for American jobs and strengthening our national security,” said Gerard. “As a former member of our armed forces who served as a U.S. Navy Seal for over two decades, Congressman Zinke knows that our nation’s energy security and national security are dependent upon each other.

“We look forward to working with Congressman Zinke is his new role on policies that will keep energy affordable, create jobs, and protect our environment as we lead the world in the production and refining of oil and natural gas while reducing carbon emissions.”

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.

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