“Instead of giving preference to oil imported from overseas, Washington should look to North American coal, oil shale and oil sands, all of which provide an affordable, abundant and alternative source of fuel. In addition to increasing cost effectiveness options for the government, it will also increase America's energy security.”

American physician and politician

John Barrasso is an American physician and Republican politician who has represented Wyoming in the United States Senate since 2007. Born in 1952, he moved from medicine into elected office and has been a familiar figure in state and national politics for more than two decades. Before joining the Senate, he served in the Wyoming State Senate from 2003 to 2007. In 2025, he became Senate majority whip, the second-ranking Republican in the chamber. His public profile is tied to his long Senate tenure and his work as a physician-turned-lawmaker.