Washington, D.C. – In light of today’s Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing - Gouged at the Gas Station: Big Oil and America’s Pain at the Pump - Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) introduced two pieces of legislation to require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to get back to work to increase production of oil and gas on Federal lands. The first bill would withhold any unallocated or future COVID supplemental funding for the DOI until the Department returns to pre-pandemic operating procedures of in-person work. The second piece of legislation would require the DOI to immediately restart all oil and gas leasing and permitting on Federal land and prohibit the President from delaying the issuance of oil and gas leases, permits, approvals, or authorizations in the future. 

“Our country is facing an energy crisis," said Burgess. "Attempting to place the blame solely on the oil industry is wrong. Americans are paying more at the pump not because of American oil producers, but because of the policies of this Administration. Since his first day in office, President Biden has undermined our energy production to force through unwanted Green New Deal policies." 

“To make matters worse, the Department of Interior is set to allow the Outer Continental Shelf lease program to expire on June 30th, since the agency has yet to return to in-person work more than two years after closing its doors for the pandemic. Both pieces of legislation will require the DOI to return to in-person work, restart all oil and gas leasing and permitting on Federal land, and prohibit the President from delaying future permits and leases unless authorized to do so by Congress. 

“U.S. oil production has decreased from nearly 12.5 million barrels per day to 11.8 million barrels per day, while global demand has increased substantially. It is critical that the DOI return to work immediately to address this growing crisis.”

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