Schmidt votes to protect America’s energy independence

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Derek Schmidt (KS-02) released the following statement after voting Friday to pass H.R. 26, the Protecting American Energy Production Act. This legislation would prohibit the president from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) unless previously authorized by Congress.

“House Republicans are leading the fight to restore American energy independence,” Congressman Schmidt said. “For four years, Kansas families suffered from high energy costs resulting from the previous administration’s severely misguided energy policy. Thankfully, with President Trump back in office, our great nation will once again be a world leader in energy production. I proudly supported the Protecting American Energy Production Act to ensure commonsense, America first energy policy remains in place regardless of who’s in the White House.”

BACKGROUND
After assuming office in January of 2021, President Biden took immediate executive action to limit American energy production. His policies – which included shutting down the Keystone XL Pipeline and pausing new oil and natural gas leases on public lands – cost the U.S. thousands of jobs and billions of dollars. The American people also saw a sharp increase in gas prices, with the average cost increasing by a total of 31% over Biden’s four-year term.

H.R. 26, originally introduced by Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), prevents any president from unilaterally banning fracking and expresses a Sense of Congress that states should regulate fracking on state and private lands. By requiring an act of Congress to institute a moratorium, this legislation would ensure America’s ability to be energy independent is protected while keeping costs low for consumers.

Importantly, a Congressional Budget Office report on similar legislation from the 118th Congress estimates the legislation would incur no cost.