Rep. Boebert Introduces Bill to Protect Colorado's Energy Workers
Press Release
U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03), other Members of Congress and supporters released the following statements following introduction of H.R. 859, the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act:
U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) stated, "With the stroke of his pen, that sometimes takes him awhile to find, Joe Biden has unilaterally imposed job-killing, anti-energy mandates that are going to crush my district and the people that live within in it. Hard-working men and women will be forced to come home and tell their families that they were laid off and that they have to move out of the only neighborhood they have ever known. There is no reason the U.S. should become more dependent on volatile foreign sources from countries like Russia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia when we can safely produce these resources right here in America. While Joe Biden continues to pander to campaign donors and extremist environmentalists, I'll continue to fight for jobs and the people of Colorado's Third District."
House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (AR-04) said, "Our infrastructure depends on oil and natural gas. That fact won't disappear overnight, no matter how many executive orders President Biden signs. He's choosing to eliminate jobs, opportunities, and American energy independence, and this will have devastating effects on our economy. That's why I'm cosponsoring legislation like the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act, because America already leads the world in clean, safe, and reliable energy production. There's no reason to outsource this demand overseas when we can be producing it right here at home."
Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) said, "It is unconscionable that President Biden would -- during a global pandemic -- eliminate thousands of jobs and prevent the creation of thousands more with just the flick of his pen. This action was thoughtless and devastating to the hundreds of communities and millions of Americans who rely on the oil and gas industry -- from labor unions and local small businesses to rural school districts and conservationists. I am proud to support Congresswoman Boebert's legislation to put an end to this madness and restore American energy jobs."
House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) stated, "In the first two weeks of his administration, Joe Biden has crippled the American energy industry, killing thousands of jobs with his executive orders. The Biden administration believes that the United States should not be energy independent, that we should depend on foreign adversaries for resources, and that American jobs shouldn't be prioritized. Since coming to Congress last month, Congresswoman Boebert has fought for American energy independence and jobs -- two vital components of a great nation. I'm pleased to cosponsor her bill and stand up to the Biden administration's failed policies."
Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives Don Young (AK-At Large) said, "It is crucial that President Biden understand that in Alaska and across our nation, countless workers are balancing energy exploration with environmental protection. By responsibly utilizing our natural resources, we can create jobs, empower communities, and produce energy with higher environmental standards than China, Russia, and Venezuela. By canceling energy projects and issuing a moratorium on new ones, the President is playing right into the hands of our dirty energy-producing adversaries, and we must not let that happen. I am proud to co-sponsor the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act to protect jobs, unleash American energy dominance, and allow our high environmental standards to do what they were designed to. This pandemic is no time to roll back the progress we have made in our energy sector, and I will continue standing up against further harmful Executive Actions.
U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04) stated, "The Biden-Harris Administration has made it clear that America's energy workers hold the wrong job, from Secretary Buttigieg saying they need to find new jobs to Special Advisor Kerry saying they made the wrong job choice. This Administration is doing everything possible to destroy American energy workers jobs and our national energy security. The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act is the first response to rein in these radical executive orders and keep American's working."
U.S. Congressman H. Morgan Griffith said, "President Biden's executive orders threaten energy jobs that pay Americans well and support their families. They also threaten our energy independence from countries that have lower environmental standards and may not be friendly to us. I am proud to cosponsor the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act and stand with our workers who responsibly produce affordable energy for our country's use."
Western Energy Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma stated, "The intention of the Biden Administration is to ban leasing now while studying it for years in order to apply yet more restrictions to leasing and development far into the future. The action is contrary to well-established law and cannot be allowed to go unanswered. Western Energy Alliance appreciates that Congress is taking action with this bill to constrain an expansion of presidential power that would kill $33.5 billion in economic opportunity and 58,676 jobs in the West by the end of the president's first term."
West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Executive Director Chelsie Miera said, "Relinquishing our energy and jobs to foreign nations will harm our economy and hasten the impacts of climate change. This is particularly troubling when you consider that Colorado develops some of the cleanest energy molecules on the planet. Understanding that Colorado ranks third in natural gas and sixth in oil production on public lands, the majority on the Western Slope, under lease from the federal government, it is critical that we protect the $2.3 billion in annual economic output. Nearly 30% of Colorado households are energy-burdened and American energy alleviates a further pinch to those families on limited and fixed incomes and small businesses scraping to get by in the wake of the global pandemic."
New Mexico Business Coalition President Carla J. Sonntag stated: "Recent unilateral, executive orders targeting our countries oil and gas producers, the energy independence and jobs they provide have stunned millions of Americans and brought joy to radical special interest groups who champion a 'keep it in the ground' agenda. In New Mexico alone, 60,000 direct jobs are in jeopardy along with billions of dollars in tax revenue each year that funds our education system and over one third of our entire state budget. The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act is an appropriate response to restore checks and balance to the unprecedented executive action taken by President Joe Biden."
Heritage Action for America Vice President of Government Relations and Communications Garrett Bess said, "Our elected leaders should be looking to deliver opportunity and prosperity to all Americans, rather than job-killing mandates, particularly during the middle of an economic recovery. I applaud Congresswoman Boebert for standing up for the American worker, opportunity, energy independence, and a strong economic recovery."
American Exploration & Mining Association President Mark Compton stated, "Minerals and metals are the building blocks for everything from infrastructure and health care to clean energy and electric vehicles, necessitating a reliable domestic supply chain. Hardrock mineral deposits are rare and difficult to find. In order to secure that supply chain, we must have access to search for and responsibly develop economically viable mineral deposits and be able to permit projects in a timely manner. The latest round of executive orders and moratoriums put American workers and the mining industry on the sideline when mineral demand is set to skyrocket. We support the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act to keep permitting processes moving forward and prevent shortsighted mineral withdrawals that put America at a disadvantage."
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz said, "President Joe Biden has gone against his promise to "Build Back Better' with several executive actions that will eliminate millions of jobs in the energy sector, destroy American energy independence, unnecessarily increase oil imports from foreign countries, and cost Americans trillions of dollars in higher energy prices. The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act will combat his expensive, expansive, and elaborate job-killing executive overreach and it should be passed by Congress."
Conservatives for Property Rights President Jim Edwards stated, "The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act responds to a dire threat to vital, strategic energy sectors of our economy. The good-paying jobs, industrial output, raw materials, abundant resources, revenues accrued at all levels of government, not to mention the tremendous benefits to America's industrial competitiveness and our national security must be protected. Conservatives for Property Rights strongly support Rep. Boebert's legislation to stem the administration's war against our domestic energy independence and its significant economic footprint helping American families across our nation flourish. The aggressive assault on our oil, gas, and mining industries comes by unilateral administrative fiat. Such abuse of power is out of sync with republican self-government. CPR applauds Rep. Boebert for her leadership."
Background:
U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) introduced H.R. 859, the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act.
The text of the bill can be viewed HERE.
The Biden administration has waged an all-out attack on responsible energy production and fossil fuels. This president is pursuing ideological and partisan policies contained in the Green New Deal to try and kill off the oil and gas industry.
President Biden has unilaterally imposed multiple executive orders that threaten millions of jobs and responsible energy production. One of Biden's unlawful executive orders imposed an indefinite ban on all new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and in federal waters. Another executive order cancelled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and imposed other job-killing mandates that explicitly targeted fossil fuels. His Interior Department's Secretarial Order imposed a 60-day halt on all oil and gas drilling and permitting as well as all mining plans.
The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act repeals Biden's job-killing executive mandates, ensures reliable and affordable energy supplies for future generations, and fosters economic growth and job creation in rural communities.
H.R. 859 is a one-stop-shop for ending Biden's attack on American energy and nullifying his related executive orders.
Specific provisions in the bill:
Nullifies Biden's job-killing energy executive actions by ensuring Executive Order 13990, Executive Order 14008, and Secretarial Order 3395 have no force or effect;
Prohibits future unilateral energy and mineral moratoriums by presidents on federal lands and in federal waters and requires Congressional approval for actions that prohibit or delay leases and permits for oil and gas, coal, hard rock and critical minerals;
Prohibits future unilateral withdrawals of federal lands and federal waters without Congressional approval; and
Strikes Section 12(a) authority to prevent presidents from arbitrarily implementing offshore energy moratoriums for political reasons (Congress can still make withdrawals).
Other actions that result from the provisions in the bill:
Nullifies the indefinite ban for new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and in federal waters;
Nullifies the 60-day moratorium on new mining plans as well as new oil and gas leasing and drilling on federal lands and in federal waters;
Nullifies the revocation of the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline; and
Nullifies the moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing activities in Section 1002 of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an areas designated for such activities by Congress.
22 original cosponsors joined Congresswoman Boebert in introducing her bill including: Representatives Brian Babin (TX-36), Jim Banks (IN-03), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Jim Baird (IN-04), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Ben Cline (VA-06), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Tom Emmer (MN-06), Ron Estes (KS-04), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Paul Gosar (AZ-04), H. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Jody Hice (GA-10), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Scott Perry (PA-10), Chip Roy (TX-21), Pete Stauber (MN-08), Greg Steube (FL-17), Randy Weber (TX-14), Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and Don Young (AK-At Large).
Supporters of the bill include: American Exploration & Mining Association, Arizona Deer Association, AZ BASS Nation, The Arizona Bass Federation, Blake International Rigs, LLC, California Independent Petroleum Association, Citizens Against Government Waste, Colorado Mining Association, Conservatives for Property Rights, Cordilleran Metals Corporation, enCore Energy Corp, Expeditors & Production Services, Golden Vertex Corp, Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Action, Highland Tellurides Corporation, International Association of Drilling Contractors, International Association of Geophysical Contractors, Less Government, New Mexico Business Coalition, Pharma Safe Industrial Services, Pelican Institute, Platoro West Incorporated, Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity, Rio Grande Foundation, US Oil and Gas Association, Western Energy Alliance, West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association, Yuma County Water Users' Association.
In 2020, oil and gas drilling on federal lands provided $11.7 billion to federal, state, local and tribal governments. Responsible oil and gas production contributes billions of dollars annually to public education. These resources also help fund important infrastructure projects and emergency services.
Over the next two decades, Biden's federal leasing ban is estimated to result in $639.6 billion in lost GDP, $286 billion in lost wages, $151 billion in lost state tax revenue, and job losses climbing to 343,088 annually in eight western states alone. The Keystone Pipeline is projected to support more than 70,000 total jobs and create more than 10,000 direct jobs. Good-paying energy jobs are often the lifeblood of rural communities. Nationally, more than 10 million jobs are supported by oil and gas.
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