Rep. Obernolte Cosponsors Legislation to Reduce Gas Prices, Increase Domestic Energy Production

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) has joined U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-AK) and committee colleagues in sponsoring a series of six bills to unleash America's domestic energy potential, restart onshore and offshore lease sales, and require the timely issuance of permits to drill. This legislative initiative comes as American gas prices are forecast to cost the average American household an extra $2,000 this year.

"In the face of high gas prices, the federal government has continued its policies to suppress domestic energy production, turned to Venezuela as a potential new western energy supplier, sought to mend relations with Saudi Arabia, and requested OPEC boost their oil production further," said Rep. Obernolte. "If history has taught us anything, it is that America is safest when we are energy independent. I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this series of bills to restore American energy independence, lower the skyrocketing gas prices that are hurting American families, and promote all-of-the-above energy solutions that will make our world cleaner in the long term."

The series of six bills introduced by members of the House Natural Resources Committee will further American energy independence and innovation in the energy sector by reversing Biden Administration policies that restrict the energy industry's access to federal lands and limit domestic energy production. Instead, the bills take steps to resume and increase oil and gas lease sales and speed processing of pending permits. These six bills join others introduced by members of the House Natural Resources committee to promote an all-of-the-above energy strategy.

The bill package is supported by the Independent Petroleum Association of America, Western Energy Alliance, Energy Workforce and Technology Council, National Ocean Industries Association, American Exploration and Production Council, U.S. Oil and Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute, Gulf Energy Alliance, and International Association of Drilling Contractors.

Background

The six bills introduced as part of this package:

The Unleashing American Energy Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), requires a minimum of two oil and gas lease sales to be held annually in available federal waters in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area, and in the Alaska Region of the Outer Continental Shelf.

The Securing American Energy and Investing in Resiliency Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), requires the Department of the Interior to conduct all remaining offshore oil and gas lease sales in the current leasing plan and issue leases won as a result of Lease Sale 257.

The Energy Permitting Certainty Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), requires the Department of the Interior to process Applications for Permits to Drill (APDs) under a valid existing lease regardless of any unrelated civil action.

The Promoting Energy Independence and Transparency Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), requires any pending permits for which required views have been completed be issued within 30 days of enactment.

The Restore Onshore Energy Production Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), immediately resumes oil and gas lease sales on eligible federal lands and requires a minimum of four leases sales per year in each state with an oil and gas program.

The Strategy to Secure Offshore Energy Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), requires the publications of the 2022-2027 plan for offshore oil and gas lease sales by the time the current plan expires on June 30, 2022.

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