Providing for Consideration of H.R. Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act of and Providing for Proceedings During the Period From November Through November 2019

Floor Speech

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Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Shalala for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, energy and mining are critical drivers of the American economy and quality of life. These industries create thousands of well- paying jobs.

The United States cannot reach or sustain our potential without developing our natural resources. But, today, we are debating three bills that put American energy, American quality of life, and American national security at risk.

It seems just yesterday that I was here at this very same podium speaking much of these same words. In fact, it was just last month. At that time, I spoke out against bills banning offshore drilling.

Now this majority wants to pass sweeping bans on even more domestic natural resources. This time they want to ban American energy from Colorado, New Mexico, and my home State of Arizona.

As I said last month, they want to ban it all; and American families, including Arizona families, will pay the price.

H.R. 823 withdraws areas in Colorado from mineral development. This bill particularly impacts its Third Congressional District, represented by Congressman Scott Tipton. Sixty-five percent of the lands affected by this bill are in his district, yet, this bill does not have his support, nor the support of any of the Republican members of the Colorado delegation.

Similarly, H.R. 2181 withdraws Federal lands in New Mexico from resource development. It also terminates all non-producing oil and gas leases on those lands.

Finally, H.R. 1373, I believe, is a misleadingly-titled land grab that deals with land far outside the Grand Canyon. I believe it is deeply misguided.

Arizona currently produces $6.6 billion in nonfuel minerals, which makes it the second largest State in the production of minerals in the United States. Yet, this bill would permanently lock up about 1 million acres of public lands in Arizona, hampering the economic potential of my State.

The area impacted by this bill also contains the largest tract of uranium deposits in the country. Restricting access to these deposits puts our national security at risk because we have to rely on foreign countries to provide us uranium.

It is also important to note that much of the lands affected by this bill are in Arizona's Fourth Congressional District, represented by my good friend, Congressman Gosar. Yet, Mr. Gosar has expressed very clear opposition to this bill.

These three bills ignore the economic benefits of domestic energy production. Energy development brings high-paying jobs, facilitates manufacturing and investment, and provides government revenues. Energy development in the United States also makes energy more affordable for everyone.

The average salary paid in the natural gas and oil development fields is $113,000 a year; and the energy industry supports 300,000 jobs.

Domestic oil production has allowed Americans to spend 28 percent less in fuel, resulting in nearly $1,000 in savings per family in 2017 alone. To my constituents, that is a lot of money.

I believe in an all-of-the-above energy approach. In my home State of Arizona, this is a reality and a necessity. We have to rely on multiple and diverse energy sources to ensure affordable and reliable energy.

I support nuclear, hydroelectric, coal, sun, wind, and other alternative sources, and I also support domestic oil and natural gas production.

An all-of-the-above approach, like that in Arizona, would benefit American families and their quality of life.

In contrast, the bans that the Democrats propose would harm the U.S. economy, threaten our national security, and increase energy prices and rates on consumers.

If we defeat the previous question, I will offer an amendment to the rule to make in order a resolution to prevent any moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracking on Federal lands unless authorized by Congress.

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Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, this resolution would affirm that States should maintain primacy for the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and prevent any President from imposing a ban on hydraulic fracturing.

In recent weeks, many of the Democratic candidates for President have pledged to ban hydraulic fracturing in the United States, a campaign promise straight out of the ``keep it in the ground'' playbook.

While this widely-used practice is often vilified by extreme environmentalists and proponents of the Green New Deal, in fact, hydraulic fracturing is heavily regulated by the States and governed by stringent industry standards throughout the country.

American households and businesses have benefited significantly from the shale gas revolution. After the introduction of hydraulic fracturing techniques, U.S. gas bills fell by $13 billion collectively every year from 2007-2013.

All the while, natural gas production using fracking is driving emissions reductions, resulting in the lowest emission levels in a generation. In fact, methane emissions have decreased 15 percent since 1990 as natural gas production increased over 50 percent.

Thanks to hydraulic fracturing, the U.S. is leading the way in emissions reductions through innovation in the energy sector. In 2017, U.S. carbon emissions reached the lowest level since 1992, and per capita emissions reached the lowest level since 1950.

Also, banning domestic oil and gas production will return the U.S. to a time when we relied on foreign countries for oil and gas. Remember the 1970s? We do not want to put our country in a national security risk.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, the bills before us today are harmful to American jobs, American quality of life, and American security. The message underlying these bills is the false notion that domestic energy production is harmful.

I cannot disagree more. Domestic energy production creates hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs, lowers electricity bills, and prevents us from being dependent on foreign actors.

Utilizing America's natural resources is a commonsense step for America's energy future. America must be able to utilize its natural resources for our economy and for our national security. We should encourage an expansion of domestic energy production, but, instead, my Democrat colleagues in the majority seek to limit them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge ``no'' on the previous question, ``no'' on the underlying measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

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