Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) said the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have exposed why the United States needs to produce energy and the most essential medicines here at home. “We need to create and substantiate our energy independence, which we had just a few short months ago,” Herrell told host of NTD’s Capitol Report Steve Lance during a recent interview, “so we are not reliant on Russia or other foreign countries for oil.” According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “New Mexico had record-high production of crude oil and natural gas in March 2021, averaging 1.16 million barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil and 6.19 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas.” Herrell introduced the American Energy Security and Transparency Act, legislation that would help the United States achieve energy independence in the wake of recent sanctions that had to be imposed on Russian oil. She also urged President …