Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my amendment No. 82, which would simply prohibit funds made available by this act to be used for the cancellation or suspension of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
On September 6, 2023, the Biden administration's Department of the Interior posted a press release announcing Secretary of the Interior Haaland's cancellation of seven oil and gas lease permits covering 365,000 acres in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, also known as the ANWR.
The former dean of our House, Congressman Don Young, once told me that his mission in Congress--a mission that he worked for for decades to accomplish--was to allow drilling in the ANWR. That was his passion. This mission was finally accomplished during the Trump administration with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Now, just 1\1/2\ years after Congressman Young's passing, the administration is reversing his important work.
President Biden's disastrous America last energy policies and his embrace of the radical Green New Deal agenda have jeopardized American energy independence and have cost hardworking Americans significant inflation, both at the gas pump and in their utility bills.
First, the Biden administration halted construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Then President Biden froze all oil and gas lease permits on Federal lands, and later he drained our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to boost political capital while putting American national and energy security at risk.
Previously under President Trump's America first agenda, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established an oil and gas leasing program in the coastal plain of ANWR, increasing our Nation's energy security and lowering oil and gas prices for hardworking Americans. However, on President Biden's first day in office, he issued a disastrous executive order, Number 13990, titled: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, and it imposed a temporary moratorium on the statutorily mandated oil and gas lease activities in the coastal plain.
So now President Biden is waging his latest battle in his war on American energy independence, the outright canceling of these oil and gas leases in the coastal plain of the ANWR while citing a dubious source of statutory authority and potentially losing out on 7.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This action by the Biden administration is blatantly circumventing the democratic process and subverting the will of Congress.
My amendment to the fiscal year 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill would prohibit funds from being used to implement the Biden administration's cancellation of the statutorily mandated oil and gas leases in the coastal plain of the ANWR.
Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment to prevent the cancellation of oil and gas leases in the coastal plain. Vote to unleash American independence and vote to lower your constituents' gas prices and utility bills.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chair, I concur with my colleague on the other side of the aisle that climate change actually does happen. It happens four times a year--spring, summer, fall, and winter. Congressman Don Young represented Alaska. He knew Alaska better than anyone did, and he knew what was best for the ANWR. It was his passion that ANWR be open for drilling for the security of America, the entire country, for energy independence.
Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of my amendment No. 83 to the FY24 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which halts the funding for the Bureau of Land Management's misguided proposed rule on energy development in the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve.
In these times of global upheaval, record-high gas prices, and economic instability, restricting American energy production would be unwise to the point of recklessness. It undermines the pillars of our national strength, our national security, fiscal health, and the prosperity of the American taxpayer. Yet, the Biden administration seeks to drastically limit access to responsible energy production on our own soil--resources that rightfully belong to the American people.
The Alaskan reserve holds the potential to supply hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day, lessening our reliance on untrustworthy foreign sources. Yet, this administration seeks to negligently barricade access to our invaluable domestic resources.
The Bureau of Land Management rule plainly defines the clear intent of Congress within the National Petroleum Reserves Production Act, which is to responsibly harness these resources through competitive leasing. The rule imposes arbitrary restrictions and redundant regulations that serve no purpose other than obstructing energy development. We cannot allow Washington bureaucrats to override the legislative mandate from this Congress and push a radical anti-American energy agenda down our throats.
Utilizing the Alaskan reserve's resources is crucial for our energy security and the operational viability of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. Leaving this vital infrastructure stranded would weaken America's strength on the world stage amidst looming threats from adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran. Our energy independence must stand resolute.
In short, my amendment wisely prevents the squandering of taxpayer dollars on stifling our tremendous American energy potential. I urge my colleagues, those who cherish our working families, fiscal prosperity, and national security to rally behind this necessary course correction.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Chairman, it is vital that we unleash and support American energy, fossil fuel energy, and pursue pro-American energy policies. I am deeply concerned that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle refuse to put the needs of Americans first.
Given the current state of affairs globally, we should not be relying on energy supplies from foreign powers. Therefore, I again urge my colleagues to support my amendment, which defunds this disastrous BLM rule.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source