Facts

• On Thursday, the Republican-majority US House voted 225-204 to pass a wide range of energy proposals that would boost oil and gas production, increase the mining of critical minerals, and change the National Environmental Policy Act's project approval process.^[1]
• Republicans hope the legislation, known as the Lower Energy Costs Act, will reduce energy costs for Americans by increasing energy independence.^[2]
• While House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) touted the policies’ ability to let the US “produce our own energy,” the bill is unlikely to pass in the Senate, and the White House said Pres. Joe Biden would veto it.^[3]
• The bill would make it more difficult for a sitting president to limit cross-border energy projects, curtail the ability of states to object to projects that access its waters, and make it easier to sell liquefied natural gas abroad.^[4]
• In addition, the Interior Department would be required to sell rights to drill on federal lands at least four times a year, and the approval process for infrastructure projects would be sped up by setting deadlines for environmental reviews and limiting the amount of time projects could be challenged in court.^[4]
• Last year, Democrats tried to pass permitting reform legislation — a measure to speed up the approval process for energy projects — but were blocked by Senate Republicans, who felt the legislation was lacking.^[4]