House Members Visit Petroleum Conference | Video

Jessica Roose | 5/24/2012

Several members of the U.S. House visited key spots in eight states to highlight America`s domestic energy resources. That included a stop at the Petroleum Conference.

Fracking regulations need to be left to the states. That was the message that Representative Rick Berg and his colleague, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy stressed to attendees of the Petroleum Conference.

"We understand here fracking for oil is way different than fracking in the east coast and fracking in other areas. So we need to make sure that we`re doing the regulation level at the state level and we keep that," Berg said.

His opponent in the U.S. Senate race, Heidi Heitkamp says she agrees that regulation needs to be left to the states but that there needs to be some sort of national energy policy.

"I think we need to sit down and realize that America runs on energy. We need to have a policy that guarantees that we will have an abundant low cost supply of energy into the future."

Berg and McCarthy say the policy needs to include goals that the country can work towards, including becoming energy independent.

"I believe in American oil for American soil," McCarthy said.

He says to do that the country needs to look at utilizing all forms of energy available.

"We need all of the above and when you say all of the above it also means below the ground," McCarthy said.

"I think not only can we lower our dependence on foreign oil. I think we can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. I also think the best energy policy is an energy policy that promotes cheap energy," Heitkamp said.

Berg says that ensuring the country`s energy future would generate economic growth and create jobs needed throughout the nation.

Following the conference, Berg took the majority leader to tour a rig, to see what oil production is like in North Dakota.

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