U.S. Reps. Pete Stauber (R-MN) and August Pfluger (R-TX) on Nov. 8 offered a bipartisan bill to reverse prohibitions on oil and gas development on 13 million acres in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.
“Alaska has been blessed with vast deposits of oil and natural gas that can unleash economic prosperity, which is why the responsible development of these resources is widely supported by inhabitants of the state, Alaska Native communities, and their entire congressional delegation,” Rep. Stauber said. “Biden’s decision to take these resources offline not only ignores the needs of Alaskans, particularly the Alaska Natives that live and work on the North Slope, it also ignores our nation’s energy and security needs.”
“Energy security is national security,” added Rep. Pfluger. “President Biden’s decision to block American energy producers from utilizing nearly 40 percent of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a continuation of his war on fossil fuels. Not only will this decision destroy the livelihoods of thousands of energy workers, but it will drive up costs for all Americans.”
Rep. Stauber sponsored Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023, H.R. 6285, alongside three original cosponsors, including Rep. Pfluger and U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK), to also reinstate awarded leases that the Biden administration canceled within the non-wilderness Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, former President Donald Trump established an oil and gas leasing program in ANWR. The law restricted energy development in the Coastal Plain of ANWR to 2,000 acres, the summary says.
On Sept. 6, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced plans to cancel the seven remaining oil and gas leases issued under the Trump administration in ANWR while also locking up 13 million acres within Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve from oil and gas production.
If enacted, H.R. 6285 would ratify and approve all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements, and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law necessary for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“It makes no sense to deny Alaskans the right to safely produce these resources and instead continue our dependence on hostile foreign nations, so I am proud to lead the introduction of this legislation to help restore oil and gas leasing and production on the North Slope,” said Rep. Stauber.
“I’m proud to work with Congressman Stauber on this legislation to restore drilling in Alaska’s North Slope and recognize the national security importance of affordable, reliable, American-made energy,” Rep. Pfluger said.