This week, the U.S. Senate passed three Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions reversing Biden-era Resource Management Plans (RMPs), which locked up millions of acres of land in Alaska, Montana and North Dakota. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

“Congressional Republicans are reopening public lands that were locked away during the previous administration. The legislation will promote energy development and economic growth in rural communities and strengthen American energy security, ensuring access to reliable, affordable energy for all Americans. Thank you to the entire Alaska, Montana and North Dakota congressional delegations for leading these efforts. I look forward to seeing these resolutions sent swiftly to President Trump’s desk and signed into law.”

Background

H.J. Res. 104, introduced by U.S. Rep. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), repeals the Biden-era Miles City Field Office RMP Amendment, which locks up more than 2.75 million acres of land and 11.7 million acres of mineral estate in Montana. The RMP Amendment restricted coal deposits along Montana’s entire Powder River Basin, which makes up about 30 percent of the entire nation's coal resources. This resolution advances President Trump's Executive Order (EO) 14261, "Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241," and EO 14154, "Unleashing American Energy."

H.J. Res. 105, introduced by U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.), repeals the Biden-era North Dakota RMP, which locks up more than four million acres of land in North Dakota. This RMP prohibited coal leasing on 99 percent of the state’s coal deposits and halted mineral leasing on 44 percent of oil and gas acreage. This resolution advances President Trump's EO 14261, "Reinvigorating America's Beautiful Clean Coal Industry and Amending Executive Order 14241," and EO 14154, "Unleashing American Energy."

H.J. Res. 106, introduced by U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-Alaska), repeals the Biden-era Central Yukon RMP, which locks up more than 13.3 million acres of land in Alaska and hinders national and economic prosperity. This CRA opens the door to repealing Public Land Order 5150, which is necessary for the construction of the Ambler Road and Alaska LNG Pipeline project. This resolution advances President Trump's EO 14153, "Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resources Potential," and EO 14154, "Unleashing American Energy."