ENERGY BRIEFING: Republicans Push Against Biden Leasing Pause

Republicans are pushing back against President Joe Biden’s executive order on oil and gas leasing, unveiling legislation yesterday that would prohibit the administration from halting energy or mineral leasing and permitting on federal lands and waters without congressional approval, Kellie Lunney reports.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) led Republicans in introducing the Protecting our Wealth of Energy Resources Act of 2021. The measure has 25 Senate Republicans on board, while the House companion includes co-sponsors Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Natural Resources ranking member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).

The legislation ...