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Congressman Steve Scalise, the House Republican Whip who also serves Louisiana’s First Congressional District, released the following statement this morning, calling for President Biden to reverse his actions against American energy.
His statement is below in full:
Over the past four years, America has become energy dominant. This has resulted in a more secure country, lower energy prices for hard-working families, and thousands of good-paying American jobs – especially here in Southeast Louisiana, where so much of the production and development of energy takes place. Our robust energy infrastructure is not only vital to Louisiana’s economy, but also to our national economy. Energy exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico also provides the dual benefit of bringing critical dollars to our state for coastal restoration and flood protection efforts.
I was disappointed this week when President Biden moved to undo many of our gains to make America energy dominant. On his first day in office, he rescinded the Keystone XL pipeline permit and rejoined the Paris Agreement, followed by a 60-day ban on issuing oil and gas leases and permits on federal lands and waters.
Rescinding the Keystone XL Pipeline and Rejoining the Paris Agreement
President Biden’s decision to rescind an essential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline puts thousands of present and future jobs at risk and undermines the trust of our friends and allies in Canada who want to see this project completed. American energy security will also be undermined because this Canadian energy, destined for refineries along the Gulf Coast, will now be replaced by imports from unreliable OPEC countries.
Additionally, re-joining the Paris Agreement will be detrimental to American families and workers. Estimates show that the reduction in manufacturing necessary to comply with the unrealistic Paris Accord mandates would destroy up to 2.7 million jobs in the U.S. by 2025. Those jobs would go to exempt countries like China and India, who emit significantly more carbon than us now, and are allowed to increase their emissions through 2030 under the flawed terms of the agreement.
The harmful policies that make up this agreement will hit low-income Americans the hardest by increasing energy costs and destroying good-paying jobs at a time when millions have lost their jobs and families who are struggling need affordable energy the most.
Consequences of the Biden Administration’s 60-day Ban on Oil and Gas Leases
President Biden’s day-one action to halt energy leasing and permits signals an alarming return to the same failed energy policies of the past that inflicted real harm on hard-working families and undermined America’s energy security. Let’s not forget that it was similar policies during the Obama Administration that resulted in gas prices higher than $4 per gallon, utility bills that skyrocketed, and thousands of jobs lost.
This action by President Biden, on just his first full day in office, threatens the economic livelihoods of millions of American families, and should be immediately reversed. The last thing we need in the middle of a global pandemic is more unemployed Americans and higher energy costs for families who are already struggling.
Energy made in America creates jobs, lowers the cost of gas and electricity for all American families and small businesses, and advances American interests on the world stage. Additionally, these leases bring critical dollars for coastal restoration and flood protection to our state.
I urge the Biden Administration to get serious about supporting American energy independence and stand ready to work with President Biden to protect our nation’s energy abundance – both on and off America’s shores.
