Press Releases
The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Week of July 22, 2024
Washington,
July 21, 2024
Here’s what to watch for on the House Floor this week:
Investing in America’s Energy and National Security
As our adversaries abroad grow bolder, it is vital that the United States unleashes American energy production for our energy security and the security of our allies, returns to energy independence instead of relying on our adversaries, and maintains its position on the world stage as a global leader. Despite the threat to our energy and national security, the Biden Administration continues to shut down domestic energy production and make us more dependent on countries like China for energy and critical minerals, allowing China to control 60 percent of the world’s critical mineral production when we could produce more here – even after they sold our emergency reserves of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party House Republicans are bringing legislation that counters President Biden’s disastrous energy policies, invests in our national security, and assures future energy dominance for both our security and the security of our allies. This bill ensures our long term national security by investing in the continued modernization of our nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure, research and development for nuclear-powered warships, and preventing hostile nations and terrorist groups from acquiring nuclear devices or expertise. Our legislation also boosts our energy security and independence by promoting innovation in energy development, keeping the U.S. at the lead in nuclear markets, supporting mining technologies for critical mineral extraction to reduce our dependence on foreign nations like China, blocking President Biden’s disastrous pause on LNG exports, and preventing the sale of any oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the CCP. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann’s legislation, H.R. 8997, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025, maintains America’s leadership in science and innovation, supports domestic energy production, improves our energy security, and counters threats to our national security. House Republicans are working to ensure that America’s current and future energy needs are met and the security of the American people upheld.  Developing Our Land’s Resources and Unleashing American Energy The United States is blessed with an abundance of natural resources and beautiful lands that provide Americans with energy security, jobs, development opportunities, and recreational enjoyment. However, the Biden Administration is trying to punish Americans for utilizing our country’s resources through out-of-control agency regulations and promoting the far-Left climate agenda. Under the Biden Administration, the EPA has attempted to enact ridiculous regulations on vehicles that increase costs for Americans and take away consumer choice, agencies have proposed NEPA rules that expand their power to incorporate climate change in permitting, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has abused the Endangered Species Act to protect species that are not longer endangered, like the gray wolf, and threaten the livelihoods of rural Americans. House Republicans are bringing legislation forward that will strengthen our energy security, safeguard American jobs, protect recreational use of public lands, and ensure development of our resources to the benefit of all Americans. Our legislation requires the Administration to resume oil and gas leasing sales and programs, cuts funds to cancel oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, bans the EPA from imposing a methane fee on oil and gas producers, and increases our ability to produce vital critical minerals by ending harmful restrictions enacted by the Bureau of Land Management and reinstating mineral leases. It also stops restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands, and blocks U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulings that weaponize the Endangered Species Act against land users and energy producers. Additionally, our bill fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, prioritizes funding for Tribes and Wildland Fire Management, and permanently addresses wildland firefighter pay. H.R. 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025, introduced by Rep. Mike Simpson, reins in wasteful spending and cuts burdensome regulations to reduce energy costs, safeguard American jobs, develop our natural resources, and ensure Americans’ access to public lands for recreation. We won’t stop fighting to unleash American energy, lower energy costs, and protect recreational use of America’s lands.  |