The House of Representatives voted to approve two energy bills Wednesday, the first in a tranche of the of six energy-focused bills the Republican-led chamber will bring for a vote this week as they seek to present voters with an alternative to the Biden administration’s policies, which they say restrict oil and gas production and threaten energy security.
Members voted 229 to 118 to approve H.R. 1121, the Protecting American Energy Act.
That bill, introduced by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), would prohibit a moratorium of the use of hydraulic fracking.
While running for president in 2020, then-candidate Joe Biden vowed to ban all new drilling on federal lands—but in his first three years in office, he has sparked fierce criticism from environmental groups for continuing to announce new lease sales, including allowing the massive ConocoPhillips’ Willow project in Alaska to move forward.
The House also voted 216 to 200 to approve H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act.
That bill, introduced by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), would block the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule to reform oil and gas leasing regulations and charge companies higher royalties to drill on public land.
That effort is among the most ambitious moves by the Biden administration to rein in fossil fuel companies. Republicans have eviscerated the White House for its efforts in this space, arguing that the proposed BLM rule would stifle energy production and burden small businesses.
Other efforts to be considered this week are a bill to repeal portions of the Inflation Reduction Act that allocates $27 billion to reduce emissions in low-income communities, and a package of bills aimed at streamlining the national permitting process for project developers seeking approval.
While none of these efforts will be brought to the floor in the Democrat-controlled Senate, the House’s messaging bills are a way for Republicans in the chamber to go on the offensive and attack the White House over what they see as key vulnerabilities ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
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They also come as Biden administration officials and oil and gas industry leaders convene in Houston, Texas, this week for CERAWeek, a days-long industry conference held by S&P Global.