Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to reverse the energy crisis caused by the Biden Administration’s failed, anti-American energy policies. The Congressional Western Caucus formally endorsed this legislation earlier this month, which represents House Republicans top legislative priority. The Lower Energy Costs Act passed with a bipartisan vote of 225-204.

“Today is a win for rural America,” said Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04). “While the Biden Administration has pursued their failed, America Last energy policies and made it harder for Americans to farm, mine, and build in this country, House Republicans and the Congressional Western Caucus have been pursuing comprehensive solutions that will enable our communities to thrive. The passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, is the first step of that solution. This legislation unleashes domestic energy production, streamlines and modernizes our broken permitting process, and boosts the processing of critical minerals with American jobs. I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this crucial legislation for the betterment of every single American.”

“Today is a great day in America – the House has delivered a bill that will grow our economy, bolster our national security, reduce global emissions, and make the United States more competitive with the passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act,” said Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA-20). “I thank Chairman Newhouse and the Western Caucus for their support on this bill which will undoubtedly help Americans across the country, including those living in rural communities, by streamlining the permitting process to reduce energy costs and make it easier to build critical infrastructure in America.”

“From the day he took office, President Biden has waged a war on American energy, and hardworking families are the ones paying the price: since President Biden took office, energy costs have hit record highs with gas prices up 51 percent and household electricity prices up 24 percent, while real wages are down 4 percent. And yet, President Biden continues to drive inflation sky-high by blocking American energy production with red tape while begging hostile foreign countries like Russia for oil. America can and should be energy independent – we have the technology to produce our own energy cleaner and more efficiently than anywhere else in the world, while lowering costs for hardworking families. The Lower Energy Costs Act will increase American energy production, reform our broken permitting process, reverse the Biden Administration’s radical anti-energy policies, streamline our energy exports and imports, and boost the mining of critical minerals,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01). “Voters awarded House Republicans with the majority in Congress to fight President Biden’s radical energy policies and lower costs for American families, and today, we are working to make that a reality. With this bill, Republicans have made energy security and lower costs our number one priority this Congress, standing up for hardworking Americans against Biden’s radical energy agenda. By passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, House Republicans are following through on our promise to unleash American energy and restore our nation’s energy independence. I want to thank Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman, and House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves for all of their hard work in getting this bill over the finish line. Now, it’s time for the Senate and President Biden to do their jobs and work with us to lower energy costs for American workers and families, instead of continuing their anti-American energy crusade.”

“The core tenets of H.R. 1 are simple: lower costs for Americans, remove the bureaucratic red tape holding our energy industry back, and restore America's energy independence,” said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-06). “House Republicans passed this bipartisan legislation today to finally give Americans relief – and Joe Biden would do well to side against the anti-energy House Democrats who voted against the bill, abandon his veto threat, and make America an energy superpower again.”

“House Republicans are putting an end to Joe Biden’s war on American energy and driving down skyrocketing costs for hardworking families,” said Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (NY-21). “Since his first day in office, Joe Biden has enacted a radical Far Left anti-energy agenda that ended American energy independence, causing the average price of gas in my district to reach a historic high of over five dollars a gallon and creating the highest home heating prices in over two decades. This bill will put an end to Joe Biden’s attack on American energy independence on behalf of families working to heat their homes and fill up their cars. Today, House Republicans are fulfilling a major pillar in our Commitment to America by increasing domestic energy production, decreasing prices, and restoring American energy dominance.”

“The Lower Energy Costs Act is a massive win for the American people and a much-needed boost for our economy,” said House Committee on Natural Resources Chair and Western Caucus Vice Chair Bruce Westerman (AR-04). “House Republicans know that when we produce energy here at home, we do it cleaner, safer, and more efficiently than anywhere else in the world. This legislation will provide a framework for streamlining the federal regulations holding back domestic energy producers and will usher in a new era of American energy independence and mineral security. Thanks to Speaker McCarthy and Leader Scalise, hardworking Americans can rest easy knowing we’re putting the U.S. back in the driver’s seat on global energy production and keeping the lights on across the nation.”

“Republicans are prioritizing the American people over the Democrat’s radical climate agenda. On his first day in office, President Biden started the war on American energy. He has revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, imposed a moratorium on oil production on federal lands, directed agencies across the Federal government to impose punitive and burdensome regulations, and made us more reliant on China. Predictably, gas prices skyrocketed to the highest levels in American history,” said House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “People are counting on us to improve their quality of life. H.R. 1 delivers on that promise and will ensure America continues to lead the world at reducing emissions. I commend the passing of this package, which will boost energy production, lift regulatory burdens for the construction of more energy infrastructure, cut China out of our critical materials supply chains, and lower costs across the board. H.R. 1 is how we build a better and more secure future for all Americans.”

“Today is a great day for American energy, mineral and national security,” said Western Caucus Vice Chair Pete Stauber (MN-08). “H.R. 1 is critical to mining and energy production in America to secure our domestic supply chains, end reliance on foreign sources, and ensure Americans have access to affordable and reliable energy. Supporters of mining, oil and gas, wind, solar energy, building transmission lines, or building infrastructure like roads and bridges, have all acknowledged the need for permitting reform, and this is why I was glad to see the bill pass with bipartisan support in the House. If the Senate is serious about the need for permitting reform, they should waste no time in bringing up H.R. 1 for a vote.”

Background:

• Click here for an overview of the bill. 
  
• Click here for a section-by-section summary of the bill. 
• Click here for a summary of the Energy and Commerce Committee components of the bill.
• Click here for a summary of the Natural Resources Committee components of the bill.
• Click here for a summary of the Transportation and Infrastructure components of the bill.