Rep. Hern opposes oil and gas bailout by government

Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern is among a handful of Republicans and Democrats who have voiced their opposition to a government bailout for the U.S. oil and gas industry.

He and a dozen other members of Congress sent a letter to Interior Secretary David  Bernhardt asking him to temporarily reduce or cut royalties for offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico. They also said they don’t believe the energy sector needs a bailout.

Instead, the House members asked Bernhardt to “examine the viability of a temporary reduction in royalties as domestic energy producers weather this combination of an OPEC-driven price war and an epidemic that is driving millions of people around the world into quarantines of one kind or another.” They add that such action in the short term “will help mitigate a price war that is sinking prices and decreasing production.”

“We do not believe the American energy sector needs a bailout from Congress. However, the Department of the Interior has existing authority to temporarily reduce or eliminate royalties set
forth in the leases in the Western and Central Planning Areas of the Gulf of Mexico and other lease area,” wrote Rep. Hern and other House members.

The following is the letter sent on Friday.

Under your leadership, we have seen an era of American energy dominance and increased energy production on federal lands. We are the world leader for oil and natural gas1, and not only is the
United States producing more energy than ever before, we are doing it on fewer wells2 as technology and efficiency increase.
Not only do these increases in production mean more energy security for Americans at home and an ability to supply our allies abroad, they are also greatly benefitting state and federal budgets and local communities. The federal government collected $3.8B in royalties in 2019 alone, and this sent $214.9M to states for use on coastal restoration and other priorities. In short, we have a vested
interest in continued production of oil and gas on U.S. federal lands beyond simply the product it brings to the pump.
However, in the last couple of weeks we have seen actions on the world stage that have added to volatility in the U.S. and global energy markets. Russia and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have recently announced plans to increase output. Combined with the demand shock induced by the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, these two factors have disrupted the global oil market and caused a dramatic drop in oil prices.
While Americans benefit from paying lower prices at the pump as we have increasingly become an energy-exporting nation, there has come a point where prices are falling too low, which is harmful to the American economy. This has compounded a situation for our small businesses—including oil producers—who are desperately trying to employ thousands of workers in time of public health crisis.
Our preference clearly should be to maintain and promote U.S. oil production, rather than witness a shift in oil production from the U.S. to countries like Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Such a shift in
production would bring with it the destruction of U.S. jobs, a decline in revenues for important programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund, adverse impacts to our national security and geopolitical leverage, and even adverse environmental consequences. As part of a strong and diverse
offshore energy system, thousands upon thousands of U.S. companies write paychecks to hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers, supporting communities throughout the Gulf Coast and in many other areas of the country. Our government should consider policy steps to preserve these high-paying
jobs and make sure that the U.S. retains the advantages of homegrown oil production.

We do not believe the American energy sector needs a bailout from Congress. However, the Department of the Interior has existing authority to temporarily reduce or eliminate royalties set
forth in the leases in the Western and Central Planning Areas of the Gulf of Mexico and other lease areas3. In the past, the Department has used this authority to increase development and production4.
Given this, we urge you to examine the viability of a temporary reduction in royalties as domestic energy producers weather this combination of an OPEC-driven price war and an epidemic that is
driving millions of people around the world into quarantines of one kind or another. Such an action in the short term will help mitigate a price war that is sinking prices and decreasing production.

The letter was signed by House members—

Rep. Dan Crenshaw
Rep. Randy K. Weber
Rep. Clay Higgins
Rep. Mike Johnson
Rep. Bill Flores
Rep. Chip Roy
Rep. Bruce Westerman
Rep. Ralph Abraham, M.D
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher
Rep. Kevin Hern
Rep. Jeff Duncan
Rep. Brian Babin
Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Rep. Michael Cloud