This week, four U. S. Representatives from Louisiana joined 80 of their colleagues in signing a letter to U. S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the issue of pipeline protestors. Collectively, the bipartisan group of Representatives have asked the Department of Justice whether domestic terrorism law would apply to actions taken by protestors to sabotage pipeline infrastructure projects.

This is an important step in defending the energy industry. As the letter states, “maintaining safe and reliable energy infrastructure is a matter of national security,” particularly in light of illegal actions taken buy anti-energy activists to undermine that infrastructure system.

The energy industry has long been a pillar of Louisiana’s economy, generating a wealth of benefits for the state, from jobs at refineries and related operations to tax revenues for local communities. We all depend on a reliable infrastructure network that facilitates these positive impacts.

Looking to the future, Louisianans should be wary of professional protestors who would target our state’s infrastructure. These activists and the unrealistic worldview they represent, are not only misguided, they pose a very real threat to the safety of communities linked to the energy industry. I applaud our U.S. Representatives for taking action on this issue.

Summer DeVille

Lafayette