Newhouse Statement on Biden Administration’s Appeal of Oil and Gas Injunction
Washington,
August 16, 2021
|
Elizabeth Daniels
(202-280-8720)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after the Department of the Interior announced the filing of an appeal to the Louisiana v. Biden decision, which placed a temporary injunction on the Biden Administration’s federal oil and gas leasing moratorium:
“Just days after begging the Russians, Iranians, and the OPEC+ cartel to increase oil production in yet another signal of diminishing American influence under President Biden, the Administration is taking further steps to continue harming American energy producers by appealing this critical decision.
As every Member of the Congressional Western Caucus recognizes, cutting oil and gas production in the United States in the name of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is hypocrisy at its finest. The U.S. continues to lead the world in carbon emissions reduction and is the cleanest producer of oil and natural gas on the planet. Further reductions in our production will result in greater dependency on foreign countries, weakened American energy security, and increase global emissions. The Biden Administration claims to want reliable and affordable energy for all Americans – including at the pump – while simultaneously acting to diminish domestic energy production. President Biden is failing the nation, and his Administration seems intent on reverting the U.S. back to the 1970’s with international crises, skyrocketing inflation, and groveling at the feet of foreign nations in the face of soaring gas prices. Challenging this injunction demonstrates yet another failure, and the American people deserve far better.” Background: On January 26, the Department of the Interior imposed a 60-day moratorium on oil and gas leasing, drilling permits, and lease extensions on federal land. That 60-day moratorium, issued just days after President Biden took office, was extended indefinitely, negatively impacting rural communities and threatening America's energy security. On June 15, Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction, effectively halting the Biden Administration's ban on new oil and gas leases on federal public lands. The scope of the preliminary injunction applies nationwide. Chairman Newhouse issued a statement in support of the injunction. Episode 2 of the Congressional Western Caucus podcast, “A Voice for Rural America,” featured Western Caucus Member and Republican Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, and Western Energy Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma to discuss the injunction and its impacts on American energy security. Listen to the episode: “Injunction on the Biden Ban: A Victory for American Energy.” Earlier this year, the Congressional Western Caucus hosted a virtual series titled, "Biden's Executive Disorder: An Attack on American Energy," highlighting the impacts of the moratorium on local communities throughout the United States. Click here to watch. |
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