CSA launched a bipartisan State Legislative Advisory Board connecting more than 50 currently serving state legislators from 19 states to work on energy security, national security, and diplomacy from their state capitals.
Bipartisan Board of 50-Plus State Legislators From 19 States
North Dakota Senator Dale Patten Chairs the Board; New Mexico Senator Craig Brandt is Vice Chair
CSA Emeritus and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright Sends a Recorded Message
New York, October 8, 2026. The Council for a Secure America (CSA) on Wednesday launched its State Legislative Advisory Board (LAB), a bipartisan group connecting more than 50 currently serving state legislators from 19 states to work on energy security, national security, and diplomacy from their state capitals.
The Board is chaired by North Dakota State Senator Dale Patten and vice chaired by New Mexico State Senator Craig Brandt.
Founding Leadership Board members include:
- Alabama State Representative Parker Moore
- Colorado House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell
- Florida State Representative Michael Gottlieb
- Iowa State Senate President Amy Sinclair
- Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert
- Texas State Representative Pat Curry
- Utah House Majority Leader Casey Snider
- Wyoming State Senator Cale Case
Advisor: Former Iowa State Senate President Charles Schneider.
At Wednesday’s meeting, CSA held a virtual launch of the Legislative Advisory Board. CSA Co-Chairmen James Tisch of New York-based Loews Corporation and Harold Hamm of Oklahoma’s Continental Resources led the meeting. CSA Emeritus, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, sent a recorded message.
Co-Chairman Tisch noted: “This event falls on the somber third anniversary of the horrific and unprovoked attack by Hamas on Israel. Since then CSA has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the linkage between peace in the Middle East and America’s own security. CSA’s Legislative Advisory Board helps in this by providing current state legislators a unique bipartisan platform to engage with energy security and foreign policy issues shaping their states. This will connect state policymakers into the national conversation about these issues.”
Co-Chairman Hamm emphasized that “energy security is national security,” and noted that “through a bipartisan effort, CSA has created something here that will be good for our energy producers in this country, that will help clear the way for stronger oil and gas production going forward, which is great for all Americans. We’ve got a greater understanding than ever before of what our mission is, what it continues to be, and how necessary it is today with what’s going on in the Middle East and the world.”
“American leadership does not begin or end in Washington. What happens in Bismarck matters in Bahrain and Beirut,” emphasized CSA Executive Director Jennifer Sutton.
Current U.S. Energy Secretary and CSA Emeritus Chris Wright sent a recorded message, saying, “Three years ago today saw a brutal attack on Israel and Israelis, and it wasn’t just on Israel and Israelis. This was an attack on Western civilization, on the things we hold dearest: on family, on faith, on freedom. Israel responded to that challenge in the only way it could, strongly and resolutely, to better defend its borders and move its society forward in spite of such incredibly hostile and vicious neighbors. I believe greatly in the Jewish people and in the state of Israel, and in the partnership with the United States of America that CSA represents. Energy is the way to build bridges that are built around commerce and not conflict. Israel’s offshore gas discoveries are a perfect example of that: better energizing the state of Israel, building infrastructure and dependencies with Jordan and Egypt, and I believe eventually with Syria and Lebanon.”
LAB Chair State Senator Dale Patten said, “North Dakota produces energy that the rest of the country and our allies depend on, so what we decide in Bismarck matters well beyond our borders. That is true of the other states on this board, too. I’m glad Republicans and Democrats are doing this work together, this is a nonpartisan initiative. When we first started talking about this, our focus started with the energy-producing states. Then we made the decision that that is only one half of the equation. If we have the energy-producing states, we truly need to have the energy-consuming states as well, sitting at the table. They are as important as the producers. And so that is where the expansion opportunities came to all the states in the Union, and we hope that they take advantage of it by joining us in our effort.”
Others from the LAB Leadership Board were equally supportive:
New Mexico Vice Chair and State Senator Craig Brandt: “CSA’s work to bring state legislators to a greater understanding of not only what is happening in the Middle East, but how our partnership with Israel makes the U.S. stronger and more secure, is something I have not seen replicated anywhere else. The role of state legislators in national security has been ignored for far too long. So it is really impressive to see how that is changing, and I think CSA is the catalyst of that change.”
Texas State Representative Pat Curry: “Texas is huge on energy independence, and we’re certainly one of the largest oil-producing states in the world. And more importantly, our relationship with Israel is about as tight as anyone’s. I have worn a Texas–Israel flag pin on my lapel every day since October 7th, and I said I would wear it until the last hostage came out, and then I decided I’m going to wear it until hell freezes over. Texas established a trade office in Jerusalem to enhance more and more trade between Texas and Israel, and we are about as tight with Israel as you can get.”
Iowa Former State Senate President Charles Schneider, who serves as advisor to the group: “I’ve found CSA’s war reports and public opinion surveys to be invaluable for understanding the current state of affairs in Israel and the Middle East.”
Colorado Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell: “When I left Afghanistan in 2010, I remember thinking that this was probably the last time I would ever be on the receiving end of rocket attacks, the last time I would see warplanes flying over and dropping munitions, the last time I would hear active artillery going out in a real war situation. But then I went to Israel in 2025, and I experienced all those things again. I think the bond that we have between America and Israel is just something so important, and I look forward to discussing these and other issues, and the dangerous rise of antisemitism we have seen post October 7, with my colleagues on the LAB to see how they are handling these in their states.”
Alaska Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Mike Dunleavy, Rachel Bylsma: “I really value the partnership that CSA brings in bringing all of these state leaders together who share the passion that we clearly have in Alaska for resource development, for energy dominance, and for our allies across the globe, and what our resources can mean to bring safety and security to both America and to those countries.”
Florida State Representative Michael Gottlieb: “In Florida, standing with Israel and taking energy security seriously have always crossed party lines. I’m proud to join Republicans and Democrats from across the country on this board to keep that work bipartisan.”
CSA is still adding members to the Legislative Advisory Board. Legislators who are interested in learning more should contact Brett Goldman, CSA’s Director of Outreach, at brett@councilsecure.org.
The Council for a Secure America is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that educates on the connection between U.S. energy security, national security, and diplomacy.