Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after the Department of the Interior released their report on federal oil and gas leasing and permitting practices, a review that has been promised since the Biden Administration issued a moratorium on federal leases over 10 months ago:
 
“Once again, President Biden’s self-inflicted energy crisis has harmed rural communities who rely on federal oil and gas production for revenue to provide basic community services,” said Chairman Newhouse. “The Western Caucus is a voice for these rural communities and an advocate for an all-of-the-above energy strategy. We know our nation cannot run on wind and solar power alone; we need reliable sources of baseload energy. Nearly a quarter of our nation’s oil and gas comes from federal leases. Producers on federal lands have worked to ensure the communities, wildlife, lands, and waters are taken care of with responsible, efficient and environmentally friendly production practices. 
 
He continued, “Instead of working with rural communities and the oil and gas industry, the Administration has clearly and willfully ignored local voices. In the process, they will drive production oversees, harming rural communities who depend on this development and threatening our national energy security. We cannot continue these relentless baseless attacks on domestic oil and gas producers, and I challenge the Biden Administration to sincerely engage the stakeholders directly.”