Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 6009 - Restoring American Energy Dominance Act

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(House Rules)
(Rep. Boebert, R-CO and 12 cosponsors)

The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 6009, which would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its proposed Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process Rule (or "Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing" Rule). H.R. 6009 would unnecessarily interfere with the rulemaking process and would prevent the BLM from responsibly managing its Federal oil and gas program on behalf of the American people. Congress directed the BLM, through the Inflation Reduction Act, to undertake actions to modernize its oil and gas program through policy and regulation updates. BLM's current oil and gas regulations, which were last updated in 1988 and still contain fiscal terms that were set more than 70 years ago, have failed to provide a fair return for oil and gas production on Federal lands to the American people, and put American taxpayers at increased risk of having to cover cleanup costs when companies go bankrupt. BLM's proposed rule would revise outdated fiscal terms of the onshore Federal oil and gas leasing program - including for bonding requirements, royalty rates, and minimum bids - which would increase returns and better protect the public. Furthermore, BLM is committed to ensuring a balanced approach to development that serves the public interest while protecting natural and cultural resources on our public lands. For these reasons, the Administration strongly opposes this bill.