House Republicans Urge President Biden to Revoke 60-Day Leasing and Permitting Moratorium

WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), and 17 House Republicans sent a letter to President Biden outlining the significant ramifications the 60-day leasing and permitting moratorium will have on our country during a health and economic emergency. The lawmakers urged Biden to immediately reverse his decision, and forego any plans to extend or expand the ban.

"We write to express our strong opposition to the January 20th policy from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Secretarial Order 3395, which is effectively a 60-day moratorium on new mining, oil and gas leasing and permitting on federal lands," the letter reads.

"On the campaign trail, and in your inauguration speech, you spoke of unifying a fractured country that is reeling from the health and economic effects of COVID-19. In states like New Mexico and Pennsylvania, you have spoken directly to our fellow citizens and promised the economic opportunities tied to energy development would not be eliminated in your Administration. Unfortunately, your actions have completely contradicted your words. Worse, in the middle of an economic crisis, your Administration is prioritizing virtue signaling and pink slips over paychecks."

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"We are concerned that these actions put American workers and their families at risk and would likely deepen and extend Americans' economic hardship. We ask that you immediately revoke Secretarial Order 3395 and shelve any plans to ban mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands. Such actions would signal a willingness to unify the country and a commitment to affordable energy for all Americans, which during a global pandemic is more important than ever."

Read the full text of the letter here.