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Today, the House of Representatives passed with bipartisan support Congressman Scott Tipton’s (R-CO) Planning for American Energy Act (H.R. 1394), which would increase responsible American energy production by establishing a true all-of-the-above energy strategy. Tipton’s bill passed as part of the Federal Lands and Energy Security Act of 2013 (H.R. 1965—listed as Title II), a legislative package that also seeks to eliminate bureaucratic red tape that is hampering responsible energy development on federal lands.

Watch Tipton speak on the Planning for American Energy Act

H.R. 1394 (Tipton) would establish a true all-of-the-above domestic energy plan, putting into place common sense steps to create a framework for using federal lands to responsibly meet America’s energy needs without repealing a single environmental regulation or review process. Under the legislation, the non-partisan Energy Information Administration provides the projected energy needs of the United States for the next 30 years to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture on which they then base four year production plans. The bill requires that all energy resources including wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, oil, natural gas, coal, oil shale and minerals needed for energy development be included in the plan.  H.R. 1965 (Lamborn) expands energy production on federal lands by eliminating red tape and streamlining the leasing and permitting process. View the full bill here.

“Colorado, along with our neighboring Western states, is in a unique position to contribute to our nation’s energy security and ensure that the United States remains competitive in the world market.  By promoting a common-sense regulatory framework, embracing domestic energy research and development, and applying environmental and safety standards already on the books, rather than adding costly new mandates, we can help meet America’s energy needs right here at home, providing energy and economic security that will benefit American families,” said Tipton. “An all-of-the-above domestic energy plan that responsibly increases production on federal lands is needed to ensure the future prosperity of our nation. That is exactly what H.R. 1965 will accomplish. It creates a framework to responsibly meet America’s energy needs, lowers energy costs for consumers, and creates much needed jobs.”

Read Tipton’s full floor statement here.