Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and House Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (AR-04) led a forum titled, “An Energy Crisis and Rising Gas Prices: A Mid-Year Review of the Biden Administration’s Energy Policy.” Congressional Western Caucus Members, House Natural Resources Republicans, and a panel of energy experts examined the first six months of the Biden Administration’s energy agenda and its impacts on American energy security and independence.
 
“This hearing provides us an opportunity to reflect on the past six months of the Biden Administration’s energy agenda, and it’s crystal clear: President Biden’s American energy outlook does not paint a pretty picture,” said Chairman Newhouse. “I share the goal of bolstering our renewable energy resources, but throttling the oil and gas industry is not the way to do it. We must embrace an all-of-the-above energy portfolio that empowers our innovative oil and gas producers to continue reducing emissions, supporting our rural communities, and developing the cleanest and safest energy resources in the world. Thank you, Ranking Member Westerman, for partnering with the Congressional Western Caucus to showcase the need for reliable and affordable American energy and how the development of that domestic energy impacts nearly every aspect of our lives.”
 
"Energy development on federal lands and waters account for approximately 24 percent of oil production and 11 percent of natural gas production," said Ranking Member Westerman. "Banning energy production on federal lands and waters would only make the United States more dependent on overseas suppliers like OPEC and Russia and drive up prices in the long term. As a result, Americans will continue to pay the price for these anti-energy policies at the pump. Gas prices have recently reached the highest levels since 2014, and AAA estimates that prices will increase between 10 and 20 cents before the end of August. Americans across the country are struggling to cope with rising gas prices in addition to increased costs for other essential goods and services. The Biden administration’s anti-energy policies will reduce domestic energy development in the short and long-term, worsening U.S. reliance on foreign sources of oil, and driving up prices for American consumers."
 
Energy experts from across the country testified on behalf of thousands of American energy workers and highlighted the work they are doing to promote safe, responsible domestic energy development.

• Mr. Paul Ulrich, Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs, Jonah Energy
• Commissioner Jon Henry, Eddy County, New Mexico
• Ms. Lori Leblanc, Executive Director, Gulf Economic Survival Team
• Mr. Ron Neal, Co-Owner, Houston Energy

“Jonah Energy operates almost exclusively on federal surface and mineral lands in Wyoming,” said Mr. Ulrich. “The natural gas supply chain is critical to support our future energy demands. However, it must be produced and delivered in a responsible way. Consumers are demanding cleaner energy, and we have responded… Wyoming has led the nation in environmental protections while balancing the need to provide clean, sustainable energy development for well over a decade. Working with Wyoming to review and develop commonsense policies should be a priority for the Biden Administration.”
 
“In 2019, the U.S. became a net exporter of oil, which was previously unthinkable. The innovation and investment in the oil and gas industry made that milestone possible, and development and production efforts in southeast New Mexico was one of the key drivers in that journey,” said Commissioner Henry. “Now, with recent Executive Orders, national policy changes, shifting of directions by national agencies, threatened or perceived moratoriums and state driven constraints, combined with the introduction of risks and uncertainties by these multiple factors put energy independence at risk.”
 
“President Biden’s leasing ban and their review of the leasing program does nothing to promote American energy independence,” said Ms. Leblanc. “In fact, the Biden orders signal a wave of uncertainty to the offshore industry which results in those critical investment dollars going to other parts of the world and, in turn, doing more harm to the global environment, to global emissions, and – at the same time – hurting our American energy works and the American consumer.”
 
“Earlier this year, the Biden Administration issued a moratorium on new leases which was struck down by a court in Louisiana. However, we have not seen an effort from the Biden Administration to restart the leasing process since the courts’ decision,” said Mr. Neal. “I am proud of the work Houston Energy is doing to advance American energy dominance. Our activities in the Gulf of Mexico have generated billions of revenues in lease bonuses, rentals and royalties for the benefit of the American people. Few, if any, companies outside of the oil and gas industry create this much non-tax revenue for the American people, and I believe it is in the best interest of the nation to work towards pro-growth energy policies.”