House Passes Scalise’s Hallmark Energy Package to Lower American Energy Costs, Increase Offshore Revenue Sharing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Continuing the fight for affordable energy for Louisiana families and small businesses, today House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced the passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act by a vote of 225 to 204 in the House of Representatives.
 
The Lower Energy Costs Act will boost all forms of energy production by cutting red-tape regulations, lowering prices across the board for American families.
 
“From the day he took office, President Biden has waged a war on American energy, and hardworking families are the ones paying the price: since President Biden took office, energy costs have hit record highs with gas prices up 51 percent and household electricity prices up 24 percent, while real wages are down 4 percent. And yet, President Biden continues to drive inflation sky-high by blocking American energy production with red tape while begging hostile foreign countries like Russia for oil. America can and should be energy independent – we have the technology to produce our own energy cleaner and more efficiently than anywhere else in the world, while lowering costs for hardworking families. The Lower Energy Costs Act will increase American energy production, reform our broken permitting process, reverse the Biden Administration’s radical anti-energy policies, streamline our energy exports and imports, and boost the mining of critical minerals. 
 
“Voters awarded House Republicans with the majority in Congress to fight President Biden’s radical energy policies and lower costs for American families, and today, we are working to make that a reality. With this bill, Republicans have made energy security and lower costs our number one priority this Congress, standing up for hardworking Americans against Biden’s radical energy agenda. By passing H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, House Republicans are following through on our promise to unleash American energy and restore our nation’s energy independence. 
 
“Today’s passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act is also a historic moment for our efforts to restore Louisiana’s coast and strengthen our flood protection systems. This bill includes my language to increase our state’s share of offshore drilling revenues and, for the first time ever, would create a framework for our state to receive revenue from any future offshore wind energy projects in the Gulf,” said Majority Leader Scalise.
 
The Lower Energy Costs Act restores American energy independence by: 

• Increasing domestic energy production, including in the Gulf of Mexico
• Reforming the permitting process for all industries 
• Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden Administration 
• Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports 
• Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals

Language from the BREEZE Act is included in the Lower Energy Costs Act. In 2022, Leader Scalise introduced the BREEZE Act to increase the revenue sharing funds Louisiana receives from offshore energy and create a framework for revenue sharing for future offshore wind development. By raising the percentage of funds received from 37.5 percent to 50 percent, more funding would be available for Louisiana’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects. 
 
Click here for an overview of the Lower Energy Costs Act.
 
What Louisiana Leaders are saying: 
 
“H.R. 1 represents much needed reform in our permitting systems, boosting production and putting our residents back to work as we focus on domestic energy production. Additionally, as we look toward renewables like offshore wind this bill also provides much needed revenue sharing as we continue to construct hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects in our communities,” said Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson, III.
 
“Southeast Louisiana relies on funding made available through our offshore energy production to fund critical projects to restore and rebuild our vanishing coast. I’m pleased to see the House pass Leader Scalise’s Lower Energy Costs Act to unleash American energy production here in Louisiana and further invest in our efforts to protect our coast,” said St. Charles Parish President Matt Jewell. 
 
“Louisiana is one of the top oil and gas producing states in the nation, and we have seen firsthand the harsh effects of anti-American energy policies coming from the White House. With the House passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act under Leader Scalise, Louisiana is better positioned to be a key player in securing our nation’s energy independence, increasing industry job growth, and strengthening our regional energy output,” said Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla. 
 
“Energy production – especially in Louisiana’s vast offshore sector – is an essential part of our state’s economic success. Today, we are presented with an incredible opportunity to grow this economic powerhouse by implementing the Lower Energy Costs Act. The principles of this legislation align with the Pelican Institute’s ‘Louisiana Comeback Agenda’ by supporting more well-paid jobs and boosting energy production in Louisiana, and I applaud Leader Scalise for continuing to fight for economic opportunity for all Louisianans,” said Pelican Institute Chief Executive Officer Daniel Erspamer.