Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer joined Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) in introducing the Protecting our Wealth of Energy Resources (POWER) Act, which would prohibit the president or his secretaries of the Agriculture, Interior and Energy departments from issuing moratoria on leasing and permitting for energy and mineral resources on federal lands. Under the legislation, Congress would have to first authorize such a moratorium. This follows executive orders from the Biden administration opposed by Hoeven and Cramer that halt new oil, gas and coal leases on federal land and require a review of all federal permitting practices related to fossil fuels, potentially laying the groundwork for new regulations.
“This legislation would protect our nation’s ability to utilize our abundant energy resources,” said Senator Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “By limiting the Biden administration’s efforts to impose a moratorium on federal energy or mineral leases, we are working to support good jobs, economic growth and energy security, while also maintaining an important source of revenue for federal, state and local government.”
“President Biden banning energy development on federal lands would increase the deficit, hurt state and tribal budgets, and make the United States more reliant on foreign producers like Saudi Arabia,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill takes such a destructive option off the table, supports schools and workers, and protects America’s energy security.”
In addition to Hoeven, Cramer and Lummis, today’s legislation is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
The bill has also been endorsed by the Independent Petroleum Association of America, American Petroleum Institute, American Energy Alliance, Western Energy Alliance and U.S. Oil & Gas Association.
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