As we head into a week of Thanksgiving, it’s important to step back and remember all the things that we are thankful for as Americans—as well as individuals—because often what we are grateful for is also what we must fight to protect.

America is blessed with an abundance of resources, especially energy resources, and they have fueled the American dream and drive since the beginning of our great nation. We live in a country that has the energy supplies and the technology to inexpensively, efficiently, effectively, and safely produce low-cost energy for all of our citizens and their endeavors.

Natural gas now powers nearly 35 percent of America’s total energy needs, and the U.S. has enough natural gas to power the nation for nearly a century—with the potential for even more from clean, renewable natural gas. The oil and natural gas industry supports millions of American jobs. And—largely due to increased use of natural gas for electricity generation—the United States is enjoying its best air quality in a half century or longer. The U.S. has become a world leader in emissions reductions at the same time as our economy has grown.

Only a short time ago, we were poised to use that abundance to achieve true American energy independence once and for all. From 2008 to 2018, the U.S. energy trade deficit was reduced by 87 percent, or $363 billion. The United States surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s top producer of natural gas and oil, and we became a net energy exporter. But, now, we are losing ground.

The use of domestic natural gas and oil discovered, produced, and refined in the U.S. makes certain America is no longer dependent on rapidly changing global markets and unstable or hostile countries. It keeps us safe. And, our energy abundance and independence allows hard-working Americans to better provide for their families and achieve their dreams. We should be forever grateful for the blessings of that abundance rather than looking backward to squander it.

This is what hard-working Americans must fight to protect so that we and future generations can continue to be thankful.