Congresswoman Boebert Introduces the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert introduced H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act, to counter the Bureau of Land Management's proposed Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule aimed at crippling American energy producers with burdensome costs and regulations.
Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) said, “The Biden administration has waged an all-out war on American energy production, issuing reckless executive orders and ill-conceived mandates that have handicapped domestic energy production and created record-high gas prices. The proposed rule by the BLM would only worsen the economic situation for millions of Americans, burdening small producers, making the price at the pump more expensive, and further destroying America’s energy independence. The Restoring American Energy Dominance Act will keep Biden administration radicals from further driving up energy costs for millions of American families and take a stand against Biden’s war on American energy.”
Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), Chairman of the Energy & Mineral Resources Subcommittee said, “Americans are hurting everyday under the Biden Administration’s inflation, along with its failed economic and energy policies. Under the direction of President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland, the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule will raise domestic energy prices, further crushing hardworking Americans. Rather than working to increase and incentivize domestic oil and gas production during a time of economic and security uncertainty around the world, the Biden Administration outsources its energy policy to adversarial nations like China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. I want to thank Rep. Boebert for her leadership on this issue and look forward to working with her and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee to advance this legislation in the weeks to come.”
Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) said, “America produces cleaner energy more affordably than any other nation,” said Congressman Lamborn. “With war raging in the Middle East, the devaluation of the dollar, and the refusal of the Biden admin to issue lease sales, the production of affordable, reliable energy must be a top priority for Congress. This bill prohibits the Bureau of Land Management from issuing yet another devastating blow to American energy producers. I thank Representative Boebert for leading on this issue.”
Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY-AL) said, “Once again, the Biden administration has shown that they want Americans to suffer from energy poverty – policies designed to intentionally increase the price of energy – rather than support common sense methods of obtaining energy independence. Biden’s BLM, through various unconstitutional rulemakings, is doing all it can to restrict access to our lands and restrict any opportunities to drill and mine. I am proud to cosponsor the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act which will prevent BLM from enforcing this disastrous rule and keep costs from increasing on our producers.”
Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-05) said, "While Joe Biden may be owned by foreign companies, American energy shouldn’t be. It is high time that the Biden Administration's America-last regulations on domestic energy are eliminated brick-by-brick. This legislation is integral to resuming American energy dominance, and I am proud to stand with Congresswoman Boebert as we put American energy first."
Background:
Since day one of his Administration, Joe Biden has stopped at nothing to unilaterally lock up federal lands from responsible energy exploration and production. Through overreaching executive orders and unauthorized mandates, the Biden administration has killed good-paying energy jobs in rural America, failed to address high gas prices, reduced access to reliable and affordable energy supplies, and stifled economic growth.
On July 24, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a proposed rule entitled Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process. The proposed rule would formally implement provisions from the partisan Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which increased the royalty rate for production on federal lands while also increasing and creating new fees for producers.
While the rule codified pieces of the IRA, it also makes major, non-statutory, changes to the BLM’s onshore leasing program. The rule greatly increases bonding levels for production on federal lands (even though there are only 37 orphaned wells on federal lands). Increased bonding fee requirements disproportionately impacts smaller producers who can’t afford to operate in the surety market. These additional fees will ultimately harm returns and reduce revenues to state and local governments by disincentivizing development on federal lands.
Additionally, the rule introduces “preference criteria” in federal leasing which could be devastating for future production on public lands. This is problematic if BLM field offices avoid leasing in all areas with endangered or threatened species, critical habitats, or nearby recreation areas. The proposed mandate could greatly limit leasing on federal lands under that criteria, in contradiction to the multiple-use mandate established in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
The proposed regulation proposes to create new fees and increase existing fees while limiting the use of lease suspensions and drilling permit extensions. This is especially egregious given the administration’s poor track record with respect to lease sales and drilling permit approvals.
This proposed rule increases energy production costs while further disincentivizing operators from producing domestically. These new costs will ultimately be passed along to consumers, driving up energy costs for American families and further shifting production to countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Venezuela.
Cosponsors of Congresswoman Boebert’s Restoring American Energy Dominance Act include: Rep. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Rep. Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-05). Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-05), Rep. Ralph Norman (SC-05), Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15), Rep. Clay Higgins (LA-03), Rep. Troy Nehls (TX-22), and Rep. Andy Ogles (TN-05).
The full text of the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act is available here