Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing on a bill that would reverse the Biden administration's harmful policies related to Alaskan energy production. Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) issued the following statement in response:

"Alaska has been blessed with vast deposits of oil and natural gas that can unleash economic prosperity in Alaska and help restore American energy dominance. The Biden Administration’s decision to take these resources offline without consulting with the Alaska Native communities most impacted by this decision has had terrible repercussions for the state of Alaska and the entire United States, including a loss in jobs and higher energy costs. President Biden’s ‘anywhere but America, any worker but American’ energy agenda must come to an end, which is why I was proud to introduce the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act. By reversing Biden’s harmful actions on Alaska’s North Slope, this legislation will empower Alaska Native communities and energy workers to responsibly develop these resources rather than continue our unstable reliance on hostile foreign adversaries. I am grateful to the witnesses who testified on the need for this legislation during today’s subcommittee hearing, and I promise to continue fighting until this crucial legislation is enacted."

Background

In September, the Biden administration canceled previously issued leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), ignoring statutory requirements and threatening a critical lifeline of future revenues for Alaskan Native communities. The administration has also recently proposed a rule to the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) that would effectively lock up 13 million acres for future energy production. 

These two decisions will have devastating economic impacts on local communities, as well as jeopardize our national security by limiting domestic energy production. Energy production in Alaska supports more than 77,000 jobs and contributes billions to the economy, much of which directly impacts Alaskan Native communities living on and around the North Slope.

To reverse these policies, the committee considered H.R. 6285, "Alaska's Right to Produce Act of 2023," which will reinstate the previously issued ANWR leases as required by law and cancel the proposed NPR-A rule. Today's hearing was a chance for committee members to hear testimony from local community leaders in Alaska who have been ignored by the Biden administration and learn more about why these actions taken by the administration are detrimental to their way of life.