Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) issued a proposed rule regarding oil and gas leasing on federal lands. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"Clearly President Biden is not content with the economic disasters he's already unleashed on American industries and everyone who turns on a light switch or fills up their car with gas. Today's announcement showcases yet again how out of touch Democrat-run federal agencies and Democrats in Congress are with the needs of our constituents and the world at large. We are facing an ever-increasing demand for safe, reliable energy, which American oil and gas producers provide in more environmentally friendly ways than anywhere else in the world. House Republicans have championed long-term solutions like the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would both meet our growing energy needs and simultaneously conserve our natural resources. These scientific solutions have fallen on deaf ears with an administration that would rather score cheap political points while putting Americans out of work in the process."

Background

The proposed rule would codify radical provisions enacted by Congress in the highly partisan Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would also implement recommendations from DOI's anti-American energy manifesto released during the first year of the Biden administration.

Together the changes announced today will increase energy production costs across the board and further disincentivize U.S. operators from producing domestically. These new costs will ultimately be passed along to consumers, driving up energy costs for American families and putting countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and Venezuela in control of critical supply chains. 

In contrast to the Biden administration's failing policies, the Lower Energy Costs Act will restore American energy independence by:

• Increasing domestic energy production
• Reforming the permitting process for all industries
• Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden administration
• Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports
• Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals

To learn more, click here.