Democrats Aim to Boost Oil, Gas Fees in $31 Billion Budget Bill

Oil and gas drillers would see leasing and other fees on federal lands and waters increase, while the government would invest billions more in climate resilience, drought relief, and conservation programs under a draft reconciliation bill the House Natural Resources Committee released Monday night.

The panel had a topline number of $25.6 billion to work with from the budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 14), but included several revenue raisers in the legislative text related to fossil fuel activities, which would boost that amount to approximately $31 billion, a committee spokesman said.

The committee is scheduled to consider the ...