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The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Washington, March 20, 2024
Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor today:

Protecting American Energy from Biden Fracking Moratorium   

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a drilling technology used for extracting oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water from deep underground – accounting for two-thirds of the natural gas in the United States and half of the nation’s oil, and positioning the U.S. as the world's leading producer of natural gas and oil.

Despite the large amount of American energy it produces, fracking is under threat, as President Biden has repeatedly caved to radical environmental activists and made statements about ending fossil fuel production in the United States. 

In a Democrat primary debate in July 2019, then-presidential candidate Biden said “we would make sure it's eliminated” about fracking, and later, at a debate in March 2020, Biden said “no more – no new fracking.”

Although fracking has been consistently attacked for contaminating groundwater, a study conducted by the EPA under the Obama Administration found that fracking has had no “widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States.”

American energy production through fracking leads to lower energy prices for families and workers, boosts economic growth, and improves quality of life for Americans. We must protect American energy production from President Biden’s radical anti-American energy agenda. 

Rep. Jeff Duncan’s legislation, H.R. 1121, the Protecting American Energy Production Act, prevents President Biden from implementing a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to protect American energy production, and expresses that states have primacy over energy production on state and private land.

House Republicans won’t stop fighting to combat misguided climate policies that shut down American energy production and ensure energy is affordable for all Americans.
 
 
 
Blocking the BLM from Stifling American Energy Production 

Since President Biden’s first day in the Oval Office, his Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has fought to hinder American energy production on federal lands through burdensome regulations.

In July 2023, President Biden’s BLM proposed a rule to update its regulations on oil and gas leasing – making significant, non-statutory changes to their onshore oil and gas leasing program that would crush production and hurt small businesses. 

The proposed rule would needlessly increase bonding rates for oil and gas production on federal lands, unfairly burdening small operators that can’t obtain a bond without significant collateral. Additionally, the rule would implement new “preference criteria” for onshore oil and gas leasing, significantly restricting areas available for production even though the BLM already requires operators to reduce their impact on wildlife and resources. The rule also doesn’t allow for leasing in areas that aren’t currently producing, preventing small operators from maintaining their business.

The impacts of the BLM’s proposed rule, as well as the new, higher fees and limited flexibility, would significantly impede oil and gas production on federal lands, threatening our energy security and stifling small businesses.

It’s time to increase American energy production and restore energy leadership, not stifle production at every turn with ridiculous regulations while Americans and small businesses suffer. No one produces energy cleaner, better, or safer than the United States – so let’s unleash American energy, bolster our energy security, and make energy affordable for all Americans.

H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act, introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert, would block the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule entitled “Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process,” that would stifle American energy production on federal lands and burden small businesses, and prevent the BLM from implementing a similar rule in the future.

House Republicans will continue the fight to unleash American energy, support small businesses and families, and restore our country to energy dominance.