Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on two bills to support domestic energy production and security. Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) issued the following statement in response:

“President Biden has managed to eliminate American energy independence within the span of two years, and gas prices continue to skyrocket as a result. Both pieces of legislation that were considered in this hearing today would help reverse the Biden Administration’s failed energy agenda by securing our domestic supply chains, ending reliance on foreign sources, and ensuring Americans have access to affordable and reliable energy. I thank both Representative Duncan and Representative Graves for their leadership on this critical issue, and I look forward to helping guide both bills through the legislative process.”

Background

The Biden administration has repeatedly jeopardized American energy independence and limited domestic energy production. Through the cancellation of lease sales and continuous delays in drafting plans for future sales, the administration is increasing regulatory burdens and uncertainty in the American domestic energy industry. Today's hearing centered on two bills to support American energy production and security. 

H.R. 1121, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), expresses the sense of Congress that states should maintain their own autonomy and decision-making authority for the regulation of hydraulic fracking for oil and natural gas production on state and private lands. It also prohibits the president from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracking unless authorized by Congress.

H.R. 5616, the BRIDGE Production Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), mandates four offshore oil and gas sales to be held in 2024 and 2025 and helps reduce regulatory burdens and delays to American energy production caused by the Biden administration. 

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Over the course of the 118th Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources has worked to support American energy independence through the passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, and by advancing legislation to remove regulatory burdens and conduct oversight of the Biden administration's policies.