02.09.23

Hoeven Working to Ensure Development of Taxpayer-Owned Energy Resources, Advance U.S. Energy Security

Senator Helps Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Presidential Moratoria on Federal Energy & Mineral Leasing

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week helped introduce the Protecting Our Wealth of Energy Resources (POWER) Act, legislation sponsored by Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) to prohibit the president or the secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture or Energy from unilaterally blocking energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters. 

“Energy security is national security, but one of President Biden’s first moves in office was to issue a moratorium on the leasing of taxpayer-owned oil, gas and coal resources,” said Senator Hoeven. “The Biden administration’s Green New Deal agenda has not only driven up costs for consumers, but it has undermined our nation’s ability to be energy independent. This legislation is part of our broader efforts to push back on this harmful approach and ensure America can develop the energy and critical mineral resources we need here at home.”

“Wyoming can power the nation, and the U.S. can power the world. President Biden’s executive orders and administrative actions taking aim at energy and mineral development on public lands hurt our economy, communities across the west and the environment by forcing our nation to rely on countries with lower environmental standards for importing energy,” said Senator Lummis. “We have borne witness to the negative impacts of these policies through record high gas prices and increased prices on goods and services we rely on every day. Not to mention, these efforts are illegal. It is time for Congress to take back its authority and to unleash American energy and mineral potential.”

The bill comes as the latest in Hoeven’s efforts to push back on President Biden’s harmful energy policies. Hoeven’s efforts include:

  • Working to end the Biden administration’s oil and gas moratorium on federal lands and to move forward with all postponed and future lease sales.
  • Pressing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to expedite the approval process for energy infrastructure to get energy to market.
  • Sponsoring legislation to:
    • Take immediate action to increase U.S. domestic energy production, including requiring the administration to hold oil and natural gas lease sales in each state with land available for leasing.
    • Eliminate duplicative regulations at the Bureau of Land Management, better respect the rights of private mineral holders and empower greater domestic oil and natural gas production.

In addition to Hoeven and Lummis, the POWER Act is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah),  Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). 

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