Rep. Young Cosponsors Bill to Protect America's Energy Workers

Press Release

U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03), other Members of Congress and supporters released the following statements following introduction of H.R. 859, the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act:

Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives Don Young (AK-At Large) said, "It is crucial that President Biden understand that in Alaska and across our nation, countless workers are balancing energy exploration with environmental protection. By responsibly utilizing our natural resources, we can create jobs, empower communities, and produce energy with higher environmental standards than China, Russia, and Venezuela. By canceling energy projects and issuing a moratorium on new ones, the President is playing right into the hands of our dirty energy-producing adversaries, and we must not let that happen. I am proud to co-sponsor the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act to protect jobs, unleash American energy dominance, and allow our high environmental standards to do what they were designed to. This pandemic is no time to roll back the progress we have made in our energy sector, and I will continue standing up against further harmful Executive Actions.

U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-03) stated, "With the stroke of his pen, that sometimes takes him awhile to find, Joe Biden has unilaterally imposed job-killing, anti-energy mandates that are going to crush my district and the people that live within in it. Hard-working men and women will be forced to come home and tell their families that they were laid off and that they have to move out of the only neighborhood they have ever known. There is no reason the U.S. should become more dependent on volatile foreign sources from countries like Russia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia when we can safely produce these resources right here in America. While Joe Biden continues to pander to campaign donors and extremist environmentalists, I'll continue to fight for jobs and the people of Colorado's Third District."

House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (AR-04) said, "Our infrastructure depends on oil and natural gas. That fact won't disappear overnight, no matter how many executive orders President Biden signs. He's choosing to eliminate jobs, opportunities, and American energy independence, and this will have devastating effects on our economy. That's why I'm cosponsoring legislation like the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act, because America already leads the world in clean, safe, and reliable energy production. There's no reason to outsource this demand overseas when we can be producing it right here at home."

Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) said, "It is unconscionable that President Biden would -- during a global pandemic -- eliminate thousands of jobs and prevent the creation of thousands more with just the flick of his pen. This action was thoughtless and devastating to the hundreds of communities and millions of Americans who rely on the oil and gas industry -- from labor unions and local small businesses to rural school districts and conservationists. I am proud to support Congresswoman Boebert's legislation to put an end to this madness and restore American energy jobs."

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) stated, "In the first two weeks of his administration, Joe Biden has crippled the American energy industry, killing thousands of jobs with his executive orders. The Biden administration believes that the United States should not be energy independent, that we should depend on foreign adversaries for resources, and that American jobs shouldn't be prioritized. Since coming to Congress last month, Congresswoman Boebert has fought for American energy independence and jobs -- two vital components of a great nation. I'm pleased to cosponsor her bill and stand up to the Biden administration's failed policies."

U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-04) stated, "The Biden-Harris Administration has made it clear that America's energy workers hold the wrong job, from Secretary Buttigieg saying they need to find new jobs to Special Advisor Kerry saying they made the wrong job choice. This Administration is doing everything possible to destroy American energy workers jobs and our national energy security. The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act is the first response to rein in these radical executive orders and keep American's working."

U.S. Congressman H. Morgan Griffith said, "President Biden's executive orders threaten energy jobs that pay Americans well and support their families. They also threaten our energy independence from countries that have lower environmental standards and may not be friendly to us. I am proud to cosponsor the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act and stand with our workers who responsibly produce affordable energy for our country's use."

Western Energy Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma stated, "The intention of the Biden Administration is to ban leasing now while studying it for years in order to apply yet more restrictions to leasing and development far into the future. The action is contrary to well-established law and cannot be allowed to go unanswered. Western Energy Alliance appreciates that Congress is taking action with this bill to constrain an expansion of presidential power that would kill $33.5 billion in economic opportunity and 58,676 jobs in the West by the end of the president's first term."

West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Executive Director Chelsie Miera said, "Relinquishing our energy and jobs to foreign nations will harm our economy and hasten the impacts of climate change. This is particularly troubling when you consider that Colorado develops some of the cleanest energy molecules on the planet. Understanding that Colorado ranks third in natural gas and sixth in oil production on public lands, the majority on the Western Slope, under lease from the federal government, it is critical that we protect the $2.3 billion in annual economic output. Nearly 30% of Colorado households are energy-burdened and American energy alleviates a further pinch to those families on limited and fixed incomes and small businesses scraping to get by in the wake of the global pandemic."

New Mexico Business Coalition President Carla J. Sonntag stated: "Recent unilateral, executive orders targeting our countries oil and gas producers, the energy independence and jobs they provide have stunned millions of Americans and brought joy to radical special interest groups who champion a 'keep it in the ground' agenda. In New Mexico alone, 60,000 direct jobs are in jeopardy along with billions of dollars in tax revenue each year that funds our education system and over one third of our entire state budget. The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act is an appropriate response to restore checks and balance to the unprecedented executive action taken by President Joe Biden."

Heritage Action for America Vice President of Government Relations and Communications Garrett Bess said, "Our elected leaders should be looking to deliver opportunity and prosperity to all Americans, rather than job-killing mandates, particularly during the middle of an economic recovery. I applaud Congresswoman Boebert for standing up for the American worker, opportunity, energy independence, and a strong economic recovery."

American Exploration & Mining Association President Mark Compton stated, "Minerals and metals are the building blocks for everything from infrastructure and health care to clean energy and electric vehicles, necessitating a reliable domestic supply chain. Hardrock mineral deposits are rare and difficult to find. In order to secure that supply chain, we must have access to search for and responsibly develop economically viable mineral deposits and be able to permit projects in a timely manner. The latest round of executive orders and moratoriums put American workers and the mining industry on the sideline when mineral demand is set to skyrocket. We support the Protecting American Energy Jobs Act to keep permitting processes moving forward and prevent shortsighted mineral withdrawals that put America at a disadvantage."

Council for Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Schatz said, "President Joe Biden has gone against his promise to "Build Back Better' with several executive actions that will eliminate millions of jobs in the energy sector, destroy American energy independence, unnecessarily increase oil imports from foreign countries, and cost Americans trillions of dollars in higher energy prices. The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act will combat his expensive, expansive, and elaborate job-killing executive overreach and it should be passed by Congress."

Conservatives for Property Rights President Jim Edwards stated, "The Protecting American Energy Jobs Act responds to a dire threat to vital, strategic energy sectors of our economy. The good-paying jobs, industrial output, raw materials, abundant resources, revenues accrued at all levels of government, not to mention the tremendous benefits to America's industrial competitiveness and our national security must be protected. Conservatives for Property Rights strongly support Rep. Boebert's legislation to stem the administration's war against our domestic energy independence and its significant economic footprint helping American families across our nation flourish. The aggressive assault on our oil, gas, and mining industries comes by unilateral administrative fiat. Such abuse of power is out of sync with republican self-government. CPR applauds Rep. Boebert for her leadership."