Today, Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Western Caucus Vice Chair Pete Stauber (MN-08) released the following statements following passage of H.R. 6285, Alaska’s Right to Produce Act. This bill overturns the Biden Administration’s anti-energy restrictions in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The legislation, introduced by Rep. Stauber, passed by a bipartisan vote of 214 - 199 - 2.
“Alaska is blessed with abundant natural resources, yet the Biden Administration has declared war on energy production there,” said Chairman Newhouse. “Rural and native communities rely on energy production for their livelihoods and our country needs these resources to achieve energy independence. It’s time for this assault on Alaskan energy to cease. I’m proud to support Vice Chair Stauber’s legislation to reinstate resource development on Alaska’s North Slope and end the United States’ reliance on adversaries for our energy needs.”
“From Minnesota to Alaska, President Biden has repeatedly prevented the responsible production of America’s abundance of natural resources," said Vice Chair Stauber. "First it was the enactment of a mining ban in northern Minnesota, and now he has turned his focus to Alaska, where he has enacted 63 sanctions to block resource development. His most recent decision to limit energy development on Alaska’s North Slope was a devastating blow to hardworking Alaskans, particularly Alaska’s Native communities who were not consulted in this decision. On top of that, it will further cement our reliance on foreign adversaries and drive-up energy costs for American families who are already struggling to fill up their tanks and heat their homes. That’s why I am proud to see the House pass this much needed legislation to reverse Biden’s disastrous decisions and move Alaska’s communities one step closer to developing their God-given natural resources.”
This legislation:
Ratifies and approves all authorizations, permits, and any other approvals or orders issued for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
Mandates reissuance of canceled ANWR leases within 30 days of enactment, prevents a future administration from taking similar action to revoke leases, and reaffirms existing law that the Department of the Interior (DOI) must hold another ANWR lease sale by Dec 22, 2024.
Requires the DOI to withdraw the proposed National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) rule, which prevents energy production on certain Alaskan lands, and prevents the development of a substantially similar rule.
