Cover Story Priority Issue: Tax Reform Must Remember Energy Needs By IPAA President and CEO Barry Russell THE UNITED STATES IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS, A DISTINCTION THAT CREATES UNPARALLELED ECONOMIC, TRADE AND SECURITY ADVANTAGES. YET ONE ISSUE COULD ENHANCE OR DERAIL THIS POSITION IN WEEKS TO COME: SHORT-SIGHTED TAX REFORM. 10 IPAA ACCESS MAGAZINE Fall/Winter 2017-18 t The Independent Petroleum Association of America is working hard to educate the Trump Administration, the Congress, media and other key organizations about the complexities of tax reform and how it would apply to independent oil and natural gas producers-particularly the importance of certain expensing provisions, like Intangible Drilling Costs, among others. Our team in Washington has already visited with more than 60 tax policymakers on Capitol Hill. I've personally met with White House National Economic Council Chairman Gary Cohn at the White House. And we've had numerous meetings with cabinet secretaries, including the Treasury Secretary.