U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) on Dec. 7 led eight of his Republican colleagues in offering legislation to ensure that the United States maintains and grows its energy independence.
“Now more than ever, energy security is national security,” Sen. Daines said. “As President Biden continues to push his out-of-touch and unrealistic green agenda on the American people, I’ll continue to push for policies that bolster made-in-America energy.”
Sen. Daines sponsored the Supporting Made in America Energy Act, S. 3445, with original cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and John Hoeven (R-ND) to require the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to immediately resume oil and gas lease sales.
Specifically, S. 3445 would require a minimum of four lease sales in the top oil and gas producing states: Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utha, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Alaska, according to a bill summary provided by the senators.
Additionally, the legislation would require that two offshore oil and gas lease sales be held in each available area in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, the summary says.
Also under the bill, the DOI Secretary would be required to disclose all communications, documents, and comments from the public related to the department’s oil and gas leasing review.
The measure is supported by the Western Energy Alliance, the American Petroleum Institute, and the Montana Petroleum Association.