Today, two bills from the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

"It’s clear President Biden will not rest until he cuts off access to every single one of our natural resources, but House Republicans are not giving up the fight. Today we delivered wins for American families and workers as we passed solutions supporting domestic energy production and independence. This legislation will be critical in securing the future of hydraulic fracturing in the United States and ensuring the Biden administration cannot deal crushing blows to American communities and jobs by shutting down energy production on federal land. American energy production is among the safest and cleanest in the world, and it's absolutely ludicrous that President Biden continues to drive us into the arms of our adversaries instead of unlocking production and innovation right here at home. I’d especially like to thank Rep. Duncan and Rep. Boebert for their work on these bills, as well as Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Scalise for their leadership in bringing these bills to the floor today. I look forward to moving them through the legislative process." - House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)

"The Restoring American Energy Dominance Act reins in Biden’s Green New Deal Agenda and unleashes onshore energy production. Rogue bureaucrats at the Bureau of Land Management have no business proposing this misguided rule that will ruin smaller producers’ ability to afford to operate in the market. Regulations like this proposed rule will increase energy costs and threaten American energy production, American jobs, and our national security. Rather than appeasing radical climate activists, the United States should be incentivizing American energy production and creating more good-paying jobs across the West and in Colorado. I’d like to thank Chairman Westerman for his leadership and for working with me to get H.R. 6009 passed through the House." - U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.)

"I’m proud to have protected America’s ability to harvest our vast natural resources and convert them to power from Joe Biden’s hopes of 'no more drilling.' H.R. 1121 is a commonsense measure that ensures no President has the unilateral power to shut down fracking. This legislation also makes it clear that no President should have the power to stop any of our domestic energy production—that power should reside with Congress and the States. Since day one, Biden has waged war on energy and pushed America to the precipice of an energy crisis. I’m proud of my work in Congress on behalf of all Americans to stop Biden’s work to make us reliant on adversaries for energy and to close reliable energy generation. I’m proud to lead House Republicans in unleashing an all-the-above energy policy that ensures America becomes energy independent." - U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.)

Background

Since taking office, President Joe Biden has taken unprecedented steps to cripple American energy production and cede control of the global market to our adversaries. Starting on day one, the Biden administration revoked the Keystone XL pipeline permit, killing thousands of American jobs and making us more reliant on foreign energy sources. The President also imposed an indefinite pause on new oil and natural gas leasing on U.S. federal lands and waters and did not hold an onshore lease sale for a year and a half.

In September 2023, the administration canceled seven oil and gas leases on the North Slope of Alaska and locked up millions of acres in the National Petroleum Reserve. Biden’s Department of the Interior is also responsible for the worst five-year offshore leasing plan in history, which contained the fewest lease sales since the start of the program and was issued more than a year late.

In the latest blow to domestic energy production, in January 2024, the Biden administration issued a moratorium on new U.S. gas export terminals and dramatically limited our ability to sell liquefied natural gas to our allies across the globe.

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. The committee has also held field hearings that highlight the local benefits of American energy production, advanced legislation to remove regulatory burdens and conducted oversight of the Biden administration's policies that only serve to increase America’s reliance on foreign adversaries.

H.R. 1121, the Protecting American Energy Production Act, 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.

Click here for a more detailed overview of the bill. 

H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), requires the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a recently proposed Biden administration onshore oil and gas leasing rule that would significantly increase and create new fees for oil and gas production on federal lands, shutting down small businesses and driving up energy costs for American consumers. 

Click here for a more detailed overview of the bill.