House Passes Three Bills to Lower Gas Prices and Promote Energy Security

Press Release

Today Congressman Kevin Cramer announced the U.S. House of Representatives has passed three bipartisan pieces of legislation this week aimed at lowering fuel prices and promoting American energy security. Cramer was a cosponsor of all three bills.

The Lowering Gas Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act requires the Obama Administration to submit a new lease plan which includes at least 50 percent of offshore areas containing the greatest known energy reserves. In July 2012, President Obama released a new five-year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leasing program which blocks energy development on 85% of all offshore areas.

It also will: reform leasing and permitting processes for oil, natural gas, solar, and wind projects, require all-of-the-above energy planning and reporting for responsible development of federal onshore resources, reform leasing and permitting for the Alaskan National Petroleum Reserve, authorize internet-based onshore oil and gas lease sales, and reduce bureaucratic burdens for tribal energy development.

On many reservations, frivolous lawsuits and government barriers are keeping Native American tribes from moving forward with energy development and creating jobs for their citizens. The bill streamlines regulation and protects tribal sovereignty by blocking any federal rule on hydraulic fracturing unless it has the consent of the Native American landowners, eliminate taxpayer compensation for those filing frivolous lawsuits blocking development, and requiring actions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to be available for public comment only by members of the affected tribe and other individuals residing within the affected area.

The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act would increase the pace of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to trade partners by placing a 30 day deadline on the Department of Energy to issue a final decision on LNG export applications following the conclusion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

The North American Energy Infrastructure Act would modernize the cross-border approval process for oil and natural gas pipelines as well as electric transmission lines to encourage investment in energy infrastructure and promote trade across the North American continent. It would eliminate the Presidential Permit requirement for the construction or modification of oil and natural gas pipelines which cross the U.S. border, instead establishing a more efficient approval process for cross-border oil pipelines and electric transmission facilities. Developers would be required to obtain a "certificate of crossing" from the Secretary of State for oil pipelines and the Secretary of Energy for electric transmission facilities. The relevant official must issue the certificate within 120 days of final NEPA action unless construction of the cross-border segment is not in the U.S. public interest.

"These bills accomplish a wide range of goals to push America closer to energy security while reducing prices for consumers on everything from gasoline to electricity. The North American Energy Infrastructure Act would eliminate future international headaches like the one we are experiencing due to President Obama's unwillingness to approve the Keystone XL pipeline," said Cramer. "The House had already passed portions of this week's legislation as much as a year ago, but the Senate has been unwilling to move it forward. The increase in Middle East tension should make it clear, however, that the time to move on this legislation is now."

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