US House Approves Bill That Promises To ‘Unleash American Energy Production’

The Republican-controlled U.S. House approved a sprawling energy package last week that seeks to undo much of President Biden's climate agenda while promising to ‘unleash American energy production’ and thereby lower energy costs across the country.

The massive GOP bill passed 225-204, with four Democrats joining Republicans in voting yes. The measure, part of the GOP’s Commitment to America, would roll back industry restrictions implemented by the Biden administration, in an effort to speed up permitting approvals, provide certainty for energy executives and thus spur domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal.

It also would aim to boost production of critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt that are used in products such as electric vehicles, computers and cellphones.

The measure appears destined to run out of gas in the Democrat-controlled Senate, however, President Biden has already promised to veto it if it were to make it to his desk.

Still, House Republicans were in a celebratory mood last Thursday following the bill's passage: "Today is a good day in America," Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said to reporters.

With other GOP leaders standing behind him and about a dozen oil and gas workers who were brought in for the vote, Speaker McCarthy said this was another promise to the American people fulfilled.

"We made a commitment to America that we would lower your energy costs," McCarthy said. "That's exactly what this bill does."

"The more we produce, the more supply is available, and the lower the costs are going to be," Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK5) said in an interview prior to the vote.

But Democrats point out domestic crude oil production is already on the rise.

"We're producing 12 million barrels of oil per day," President Biden said back in October of last year. The president noted that, by the end of 2022, domestic energy companies were expected to be producing one million barrels more per day than when he took office.

What's more, Democrats say, domestic production is on track to hit an all-time high later in 2023 this year without H.R. 1. And they said, whatever happens, it will be without the legislation, as leaders in the Democrat-controlled Senate have declared it dead on arrival.

"So, this is another political stunt from House Republicans who have shown an inability to govern," Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) said at a press conference last week.

But Oklahoma Congresswoman Bice believes some of what's in the bill could still live to see another day.

"Just because it may not pass in its entirety in its current form," Rep. Bice said, "doesn’t mean that there aren’t parts of it that are of interest to the Senate and maybe even the president."

The House and Senate are in the middle of a two-week break; when they come back in session, the focus is expected to return to negotiations over raising the debt ceiling and agreeing on a budget.