Oklahoma Congressmen Markwayne Mullin and Frank Lucas joined other members of the U.S. House Energy Action Team in denouncing and heavily criticizing President Biden’s order signed Wednesday banning all new oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters.
“It was no secret President Biden planned to destroy the oil and gas industry if elected president and in the first week of his administration, he’s taken actions to do just that,” said Rep. Mullin who is a co-chair of the HEAT group. “This only makes us more dependent on foreign oil and increases prices for American families, not to mention eliminates good-paying jobs in the middle of a pandemic.”
Rep. Lucas was equally condemning of the President’s action, calling it the “Biden Administration’s deeply misguided moratorium on oil and gas leasing and drilling permits,” adding it will have severe economic impacts across the country.
” At a time when we need to be supporting energy producers and our economy, prohibiting the Bureau of Land Management offices from leasing and permitting will only stifle our economic recovery, further American dependence on foreign oil, and create more uncertainty for families who rely on America’s energy industry,” said Lucas.
Others on the HEAT caucus joined in their condemnation of Biden’s move.
House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark. said, “Job killing, top-down, detrimental regulation is the Democrat way. President Biden has proven this during his first week in office.”
Another Arkansas House member, Rep. French Hill offered his disappointment. “After less than a week in office, President Biden has let his promises to American workers fall by the wayside in favor of a far-left wish list.
Kansas Rep. Ron Estes said the order ending new oil and gas leasing as well as killing the Keystone XL pipeline will be a disaster to so many families.
“At a time when he should be focused on getting the economy going and creating jobs, President Biden is signing job killing executive orders like this,” said Estes.
Other criticism came from Texas Rep. Roger Williams.
“President Biden is making extraordinarily clear that he has no concern for America’s energy workers or about our nation’s energy independence.”
Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said the executive order will not only endanger the country’s economy but threaten its national security.
“The negative ramifications that will be felt across the country because of this ban will be real and painful. Energy costs will rise. Domestic energy production will fall. Jobs will be lost.”