From The Desk Of T. Boone Pickens

Army-It's been an active week, to say the least. The 2010 midterm elections are all but finished, and tens of millions of Americans across the nation did their civic duty by voting.

People cast their votes based upon personal decisions - political ideology, certain policy issues and other matters that are important to their daily lives. According to the various exit polls and election experts, the strength of our nation's economy and national security were among the issues of greatest importance to America's voters.

That means our continued and growing reliance on foreign oil is at the top of the issues list - because it cuts across these two, and many other, issues that Americans are concerned about. Every day we spend $1 billion on imported oil - money that should be cycling through our economy is being sent to other economies and bankrolling many of this nation's enemies.

And the price of oil - and the money we spend to buy it - keeps climbing. This week oil prices hit a six-month high, rising to $85 per barrel, the highest price since May 3. Last December, I predicted $85 per barrel oil by the end of 2010 - we got there two months early.

We dug ourselves into this hole. And we can dig ourselves out - if we act now.

The day after the election, President Barack Obama talked about the need for our elected officials from both sides of the aisle to find common ground. The first such policy area he talked about was energy, in general, and natural gas, specifically. The president said:

"I don't think there's anybody in America who thinks that we've got an energy policy that works the way it needs to, that thinks that we shouldn't be working on energy independence. And that gives opportunities for Democrats and Republicans to come together and think about - you know, whether it's natural gas or energy efficiency or how we can build electric cars in this country - how do we move forward on that agenda."

He's absolutely right. Fortunately, many Members of Congress from both political parties have supported policies to get off OPEC oil and onto American resources like natural gas over the past two years. They've been cosponsors of the NAT GAS Act or integrated elements of its policies into other pieces of legislation. They know that our continued reliance on foreign oil presents a national and economic security issue for our nation and continue to work together to get this important legislative process over the finish line.

We can get this done this year if Congress finishes what it started when it returns later this month.

I have a saying that applies in this situation: The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is today.

We can't turn back the clock. But we, supported by our elected officials, can start fixing the problem today.

It can only happen if we have the strength and courage to act now - because we can't afford to wait any longer.

-Boone