Joe Biden threatened to veto H.R. 1—the Lower Energy Costs Act.
Washington, D.C. — the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, upholding Republicans’ Commitment to America and to an economy that’s strong. The Lower Energy Costs Act will restore American energy independence by: Increasing domestic energy production.
Joe Biden should ask himself: does he side with lower energy prices for American families OR does he side with Russia and China, who are rooting against this bill?
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 14th, 2023. The bill focuses on two main priorities: increasing the production and export of American energy and reducing the regulatory burdens that make it harder to build American infrastructure and grow our economy
H.R. 1—sponsored by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and co-sponsored by Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), and Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO)—unleashes American energy and lowers costs for families.
Unleash American Energy:
• Prohibits President Biden from banning hydraulic fracturing
• Repeals all restrictions on the import and export of natural gas, including LNG
• Prevents liberal states from blocking interstate infrastructure projects
• Repeals President Biden’s $6 billion natural gas tax that would increase energy bills for families
• Rolls back President Biden’s $27 billion EPA slush fund for Democrat special interests
• Disapproves of President Biden’s canceling of the Keystone XL pipeline
• Requires the Department of the Interior to resume lease sales on federal lands and waters
• Repeals harmful royalties and fee increases imposed on energy production that drive up prices for families
• Ensures parity in energy revenue sharing for states with onshore and offshore energy development
• Requires publication of the 2023-28 offshore oil and gas lease sales plan/sets deadlines for future 5-year plans
The Lower Energy Costs Act will restore American energy independence by:
- Increasing domestic energy production
- Reforming the permitting process for all industries
- Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden administration
- Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports
- Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals
“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. 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.” – House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
“In House Republicans’ Commitment to America, we promised the American people that we would work to reduce energy costs and make it easier and more affordable to build in the U.S. I’m proud to say that H.R. 1, the Lower Costs and Energy Act, will deliver on that promise by increasing energy production and instituting comprehensive permitting reform to speed the construction of critical infrastructure in our country. As our nation continues to recover from the highest inflation in generations, this bill will help stimulate our economy and bolster our national security while making us more competitive on the world stage against Russia and China. I am grateful for the leadership of Leader Scalise, Chairman Westerman, Chairwoman Rodgers, and Chairman Graves who all played a crucial role in getting H.R. 1 across the finish line. The need for permitting reform is something that Republicans and Democrats alike can get behind, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to do right by the American people and swiftly take up this bill.” – House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
“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. 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.” – House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA)
“The Lower Energy Costs Act is a massive win for the American people and a much-needed boost for our economy. 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.” – House Committee on Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR)
“The Lower Energy Costs Act is critical for so many reasons — from increasing domestic energy production, to encouraging the production of critical minerals, to modernizing the NEPA process to ensure energy and other infrastructure projects can move forward. This bill does exactly what the bill title says. It will lower energy costs for American families, farmers, and businesses by removing unnecessary regulatory barriers to critical energy projects and by increasing our energy independence, all while continuing to protect our environment. Key contributions from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Members will prevent federal water regulations from being abused to block needed energy projects and will apply One Federal Decision streamlining reforms to pipeline projects. Energy costs remain unbearably high for too many Americans, and this bill will make a real difference.” – House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Sam Graves (R-MO)
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.
Source House Committee on Energy and Commerce
H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act:
https://www.speaker.gov › uploads › 2023/03
H.R. 1 will lower costs for Americans and grow our economy by fast-tracking the approval process for American energy production on federal lands and waters.
How this event is reported by the media supporting the Democratic Party and Joe Biden :- “
Washington — The House on Thursday approved a sprawling energy package that seeks to undo virtually all of President Biden’s agenda to address climate change, with four Democrats joining Republicans in voting for passage.
The massive GOP bill up would sharply increase domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal, and ease permitting restrictions that delay pipelines, refineries and other projects. It also would boost production of critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt that are used in products such as electric vehicles, computers and cellphones.
The vote to pass the bill, dubbed the “Lower Energy Costs Act,” was 225 to 204. One Republican voted against the measure.
Republicans gave the bill the symbolic label H.R. 1 — the top legislative priority of the new GOP majority, which took control of the House in January. The measure, which combines dozens of separate proposals, represents more than two years of work by Republicans who have chafed at Mr. Biden’s environmental agenda. They said Mr. Biden’s efforts have thwarted U.S. energy production and increased costs at the gas pump and grocery store.
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