Biden's midnight ruling's blow to U.S. energy

By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman
R-Arkansas

After four years of countless blows to American energy production, the Biden administration has once again proven that they have no interest in putting our country and our national security first. A midnight ruling proved that this administration has no desire to work toward American energy dominance as a ban on oil and gas production in more than 600 million acres of federal waters was announced earlier this week. 

America will always need the oil and gas industry. Yet, the Biden administration has continually relied on our adversaries to provide energy – not domestic producers. At the end of the day, this is not just sending our adversaries American dollars for the goods they provide, but ultimately handing them full control over the safety of our economy and well-being. 

The reckless decision in the early days of the Biden administration to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline permit and oil and gas leasing on federal lands was especially disastrous to the hardworking Americans who found themselves immediately out of a job and the means to provide for their families. Our nation was also shortchanged by the deprivation of a major investment which could have proven to boost the American economy exponentially. It’s unfortunate that once again, a similar decision was made with a single stroke of a pen at the expense of the American people. 

Energy security is national security, and when we have the ability to produce our own energy right here in or backyard, create thousands of jobs for Americans, and take back the control we have so thoughtlessly handed to countries like Russia and China, we are giving the American people a win and ensuring our dominance in the energy sector across the globe.

That’s why, as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I sent a letter to President Biden and Secretary of the Interior, Debra Haaland, to strongly condemn this decision which betrays decades of progress, abandoning hard working Americans who rely on offshore energy development for their livelihoods in the process. In my letter, I remind President Biden and Secretary Haaland that history will remember this decision not as a triumph of conservation, but as a retreat to radicalism – a misguided attempt to cement a legacy of obstruction at the expense of America’s energy security.

I have made it a top priority as we enter the 119th Congress to fight for America-first energy production and reverse Biden’s reckless and unsustainable policies, and I intend to do so until America is once again the global leader in energy production.

••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.