Today marks 100 days since U.S. President Joe Biden took office. House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement:

"We've had so many opportunities for bipartisan reform in the past few months, in areas ranging from the environment to infrastructure to COVID-19 relief. Yet while President Biden has talked repeatedly about the need for bipartisanship, his actions tell a different story. On day one in office, he effectively killed the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have safely transported oil from Canada and already employed hundreds of American workers. During his first week in office, he issued energy directives that eliminated even more American jobs and will force us to import our energy from overseas. The administration continues falling back on the same promises to create green jobs and make the U.S. a global leader in environmental reform, yet none of these promises have been fulfilled. I and my Republican colleagues in Congress have introduced proactive, pragmatic environmental solutions, and we stand ready to work with this administration on issues that affect every American. Unfortunately, if these first 100 days are any indication, President Biden is not willing to listen."

Background

President Biden took several executive actions on energy during his first few days in office, including revoking the presidential permit of the Keystone XL pipeline and banning new energy leases on all federal lands and waters. Many western states depend on energy revenues to fund environmental programs and community development, but these policies directly impact their ability to do so. They also have a national impact. In 2019 alone, the Department of the Interior (DOI) disbursed $8.08 billion in funds generated by energy production on federal and tribal lands and waters, with $2.88 billion going to the Treasury and $1.81 billion going to energy-producing states. The ban on new leasing creates an opportunity cost in the billions and increases our national debt. In addition, these policies jeopardize the future of important conservation programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund, among others.
 
President Biden has also pledged to preserve 30 percent of land and water by 2030. This threshold is arbitrary, not based in scientific fact and would simply lock up more public land, preventing energy development, outdoor recreation, forest management, hunting, fishing and more. Further guidance from the administration on the specifics of this initiative remain forthcoming.

House Committee on Natural Resources Republicans have sent eight letters of inquiry to the DOI and other federal agencies, requesting 73 documents and four briefings pertaining to the administration's environmental and regulatory policies. To date, more than 70 of these requests have gone unanswered.