Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6285, a House Committee on Natural Resources bill that will support energy resource development in Alaska. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"As President Biden continues to wage war on domestic energy production, House Republicans are fighting back with solutions to unleash our abundant natural resources. With this bipartisan bill, we’re reversing Biden's disastrous rule that would limit energy production in Alaska and putting Alaskan communities, tribes and local leaders back in the driver’s seat. I'd like to thank my colleague, Congressman Stauber, for his leadership on this important issue."

Background

H.R. 6285, the Alaska's Right to Produce Act of 2023, introduced by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), would reverse two recent actions taken by the Biden administration by reinstating the previously issued Arctic National Wildlife Refuge leases, as required by law, and canceling the finalized National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska rule, which would effectively cut off development in the energy-rich region and dramatically impact a critical funding stream for local indigenous communities.