Last week, House Republicans passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. It was our top priority, which is why it was given #1 as the bill number, and it’s full of commonsense, uncontroversial energy policy. Yet somehow the vast majority of Democrats voted against the bill. They had little specifics when arguing against it and instead reverted to their usual hyperbolic rhetoric that the legislation will kill the planet because it supports American oil and gas production.
We can’t survive on a wind and solar-only energy future. It’s unreliable, and it’s irresponsible for my colleagues on the left to continue pushing this narrative. H.R. 1 removes permitting obstacles for American natural gas, which can provide safe, clean, affordable, and abundant energy to the world and displace foreign coal, which is the primary driver of global emissions.
This bill makes it easier to tap into America’s vast deposits of critical minerals, which we need to make things like batteries and steel domestically rather than relying on China. And this bill includes two provisions I introduced to protect America’s oil refining capacity and make it easier for states to develop carbon capture projects.
This bill simply promotes affordable, reliable energy produced right here in America. We produce the cleanest energy in the world and when we export that energy abroad, we lower global emissions. This bill checks all the boxes–it’s good for energy production, consumers, and the environment. It is a shame so many Democrats voted against it in the House and that Chuck Schumer and Joe Biden will likely prevent it from becoming law while they’re in control of the Senate and White House.
