The HEAT Report

The HEAT Report is a weekly newsletter focusing on how members of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) promote American energy security, and an all-of-the-above energy economy.

The Latest:

The Biden Administration finally decided to release their long-delayed report from the Interior Department on federal oil and gas leasing and permitting practices, blowing past the summer deadline promised by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. This report is nothing more than a battle plan for their continued assault on American energy dominance.

These so-called "reforms" to our nation's oil and gas leasing program would make it more difficult for energy companies to drill on federal lands and waters, and in turn, would increase already sky-high energy costs for consumers as the price of oil consequently skyrockets. This would add to the burden hardworking families already face as they struggle to afford gas at the pump and the soaring cost of utility bills to heat and cool their homes this winter.

Limiting production while simultaneously making it more expensive will only increase our reliance on foreign exporters like OPEC and Russia to produce our oil for us. President Biden has already begged OPEC to increase oil production while killing American energy jobs here at home, so surely he will call on America's adversaries again to pump more oil to bail him out of the consequences of these disastrous policies.

On top of all that, Biden made the politically-driven decision to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to counter his self-created energy crisis when he should be working with American energy producers to boost domestic production. This move — usually reserved for extreme emergencies — is not a long-term solution that will help families devastated by the Biden Administration's failed policies.

To return America to energy dominance, Biden should reverse course on his destructive decisions to cancel and halt pipelines in America, close off federal lands and waters to oil and gas development and production, and delay permitting for energy infrastructure projects.

This Week's HEAT Member Highlights:

In a House Oversight and Reform Committee markup, Representative Fred Keller (R-Pa.) offered an amendment to Congressional Democrats' Federal Agency Climate PREP Act to promote the production and use of American-sourced energy, which is significantly cleaner than foreign-supplied energy.

Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Ranking Member David McKinley, P.E. (R-W. Va.) spoke with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during its EnergyInnovates event on methane emissions and highlighted the crippling effect that Congressional Democrats' natural gas tax would have on families.

Representative Garret Graves (R-La.) spoke with local media about the Biden Administration's decision to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to mitigate for bad policies and the wrong approach to lower gas prices.

Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas)led a letter with Representative Roger Williams (R-Texas) and 61 House Republicans demanding answers from the Biden Administration amid the possibility that the Administration is considering reimposing a ban on exporting American crude oil. Rep. Pfluger also joined Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and other House Republicans in sending a letter to hold the Biden Administration accountable for their failure to support U.S. private sector investment in Central and Eastern Europe in the face of Russian aggression.

Representative Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) is seeking cosponsors for his bill prohibiting sole executive authority from revoking permits for cross-border energy facilities. Rep. Walberg is introducing this legislation in light of reports that the Biden Administration is considering shutting down the Line 5 pipeline.

Representative Clay Higgins (R-La.) offered a series of pro-American energy amendments to a Democrat-led bill that expands federal bureaucracy to implement radical climate policies during a House Oversight and Reform Committee markup.

Headlines:

• Biden blames soaring gas prices on Big Oil as he keeps up his war on fossil fuels(Fox News)
• GOP proposes blocking Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases without plan to boost production (Washington Examiner)
• OPEC, Russia Agree to Keep Boosting Oil Output, Jolting Prices (Wall Street Journal)
• U.S. natural gas sinks, on track for worst month in three years (CNBC)
• Global oil CEOs stress need for fossil fuels despite push for cleaner energy (Reuters)

The Response on Social Media:

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) criticized the Biden Administration for its "Bleak Friday" oil and gas leasing report that would limit American energy production and decimate American families by causing already high energy costs to skyrocket.

HEAT Co-Chair Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.)shared on social media how President Biden's decision to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is a political stunt and a quick fix for a serious problem caused by his America-last energy policies. The solution to the energy crisis is unleashing American energy and allowing America to once again become energy independent.

Representative August Pfluger (R-Texas) pointed out that the Biden Administration's disastrous energy policies have made America less energy dominant on the world stage.

Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Ranking Member David McKinley, P.E. (R-W. Va.)blasted the Biden Administration for driving gas prices through the roof and placing an enormous burden on the livelihoods of hardworking families. Rep. McKinley also criticized Congressional Democrats for shoving their massive multi-trillion dollar tax-and-spending spree down the throats of the American people and causing inflation to skyrocket.

Representative Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) called out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for his absurd claim that "Americans who buy electric vehicles will not have to worry about the price of gas again." Rising inflation is increasing the cost of electric vehicles, and President Biden's desire to halt natural gas production will only raise prices on Americans as a whole. Rep. Lesko also bashed Democrats for celebrating the price of gas decreasing $0.02 this week.