U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas was joined this week by House members in filing what they called the Gas Prices Relief Act, legislation aimed at protecting Americans from what was referred to as President Biden’s anti-energy agenda.
“The American people can’t afford to fill up at the pump, and there’s no question about it – these surging gas prices rest squarely on the shoulders of President Biden and the Democrats’ anti-American energy policies,” said Senator Marshall.
The bill would prohibit the Biden Administration from enacting new rules or regulations that would decrease domestic oil, gas, or biofuels productions; increase gas prices; or have any negative effects on domestic energy production, infrastructure development, or transportation fuels.
Sen. Marshall accused Democrats of wanting to increase the national debt by “throwing a band-aid on the issue at hand instead of addressing the underlying issues and fully unleashing the American energy industry.
Marshall called it common sense legislation that would provide relief at the pumps while loosening the Biden administration’s choke hold on American energy producers.
Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington state and Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota, who belong to the Congressional Western Caucus filed the same measure in the House.
“Since the day he took office, President Biden and the Democrats have been implementing energy policies that have reduced domestic energy production and American families have paid literally paid the price for it. This cannot be allowed to continue,” said Rep. Fischbach.
She said the bill would stop Biden’s targeted policies from continuing until gas prices drop to at least $2.60 a gallon, the price before Biden took office.
“President Biden’s attack on American energy has resulted in the highest gas prices we have seen in decades, and he can’t blame this on Putin. This is a crisis of his own making,” said Chairman Newhouse.
He stated that the Biden administration has attacked the U.S. energy sector, made the country more reliant on foreign energy sources, and weakened its ability to provide for our own people.
“This bill will ensure that President Biden puts Americans first, instead of overregulating the very industry that can reduce gas prices.”
Western Caucus Vice Chairs Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) and Pete Stauber (MN-08) and Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), August Pfluger (TX-11), Ron Estes (KS-04), and Rodney Davis (IL-13) joined in introducing the bill.
The prohibition would stay in place until January 1, 2023 or until gas prices fall below $2.60 per gallon.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.