The U.S. House Rules Committee met this week to formulate a rule on the sweeping clean energy package pushed by Democrats and one Republican is fighting to preserve the oil and gas industry’s fracking capabilities.
At question is H.R. 4447 (116) which sets up a floor vote on the measure that Democrats argue is their response to fighting climate change. But at least 100 amendments were proposed including one by Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina.
He proposed an amendment to prohibit the president from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing unless Congress authorizes it.
In July, Rep. Duncan introduced his Protecting American Energy Production Act or H.R. 7400.
“There has been an aggressive push by left-wing environmentalists to ban hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Instead of focusing on furthering the American Energy Renaissance, they are determined to implement unrealistic, progressive policies like the Green New Deal,” he said in introducing the measure.
“This bill prohibits future Presidents from using their executive powers to declare a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing, unless authorized by an Act of Congress. It further expresses that States have the authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production on State and privately-owned lands,” added the congressman.
Given that Democrats have an overwhelming control of the House, his amendment might not stand a solid chance of being approved.
Source: POLITICO