Bill Mandates Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines led his Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the “Supporting Made in America Energy Act” to ensure that the United States maintains and grows its energy independence by supporting Made in America energy. The bill bolsters energy indepencence by requiring the Department of the Interior (DOI) to hold four onshore oil and gas lease sales in the top oil and gas producing states as well as requiring two offshore oil and gas lease sales in each available area in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska.
“Now more than ever, energy security is national security,” said Daines. “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.”
Daines’ legislation is cosponsored by Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), James Risch (R-Idaho), John Hoeven (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.)
In November 2021, Daines slammed the Biden administration in an ENR hearing for their anti-American energy policies that led to higher heating and gas costs for Montana families.
In June 2023, Daines led a letter with Congressman Zinke and Rosendale demanding answers to the Biden administration’s flagrant disregard of oil and gas land leasing laws.
Statements of Support:
“It’s unfortunate that clear statutory mandates from Congress, such as the straightforward requirement in the Mineral Leasing Act that the Interior Department hold quarterly lease sales, have been simply ignored by the Biden Administration. The fact that this bill is even necessary demonstrates how President Biden is completely comfortable violating the law. Congress shouldn’t have to keep making the same legislation, but we are certainly thankful that Senator Daines has done so with this bill.” – Kathleen Sgamma, President of Western Energy Alliance
“Consistent access to leasing both onshore and offshore is essential for maintaining U.S. energy security. By prioritizing regularly scheduled lease sales offshore and in key states, this legislation helps to establish the certainty needed to support a robust energy future. We thank Senator Daines for his continued leadership on this critical issue.” – API Vice President of Upstream Policy Holly Hopkins
“We thank Senator Daines for bringing legislation to make it crystal clear that the Bureau of Land Management is required to hold quarterly oil and gas lease sales. Too many times the mandated quarterly lease sales have failed to happen causing an inability for oil and gas operators plan and costing state and federal governments to lose out on revenue from these lease sales and bonus payments.” – Alan Olson, Executive Director, Montana Petroleum Association
View the one-pager on the “Supporting Made in America Energy Act” HERE.
Read the full text HERE.