Earlier this month, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) founded the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), a "committed group of House members" dedicated to "promot[ing] Republican energy policies." Thirty-four members of Congress were recruited to the cause, dedicating their district work period to "promoting energy independence for America." As McCarthy's press office put it, the dedicated members of the HEAT squad would "clearly demonstrate that House Republicans are on the side of the small businesses and families."

Judging from their campaign coffers, however, reasonable citizens might question who these members are really fighting for. Members of HEAT have already received nearly $1.3 million in campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry in the 2012 election cycle alone (according to a Political Correction records search on OpenSecrets.org of each individual HEAT member, excluding contributions from individuals). The average amount received per member comes in at about $38,232; HEAT leader Rep. McCarthy alone has received over $114,000.

The following are the members of H.E.A.T.

Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Conaway (R-TX), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Greg Walden (R-OR), Rick Berg (R-ND), Jeff Denham (R-CA), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Doc Hastings (R-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Alan Nunnelee (R-MS), Pete Olson (R-TX), Ben Quayle (R-AZ), Martha Roby (R-AL), Phil Roe (R-TN), Steve Womack (R-AR), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Bill Flores (R-TX), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), John Shimkus (R-IL), Fred Upton (R-MI), Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Mike Pompeo (R-KS).