U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) reintroduced the ‘Unleashing American Energy Act’ Thursday. The bill was originally introduced by Carl in 2021, but the Democratic controlled Congress refused to allow it to come to a vote.
“On day one of Biden’s presidency, he went to war with American energy,” Carl said in a news release. “As a result, all of us have been paying more at the pump for the past two years. The administration has finger pointed at everyone else – even blaming Vladimir Putin – for higher gas prices, even though gas prices were already skyrocketing months before Russia invaded Ukraine.
“The rise in energy costs is a direct result of the Biden administration’s terrible policies, despite what they try to tell the American people.”
The bill requires a minimum of two oil and gas lease sales a year in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Alaska Region of the Outer Continental Shelf, and it prohibits future moratoriums or delays on oil and gas leasing. Democrats refused to allow a vote on this bill for nearly two years.
“President Trump worked hard to increase American energy production,” Carl said, “and for the first time in years, America became energy independent instead of energy dependent during his time in office. Not only did this provide good-paying American jobs, but it also made America safer and more secure.
“America has the resources and infrastructure to meet our supply needs and provide clean energy around the globe, so I’m fighting back against President Biden’s war on American energy production.
The congressman emphasized the need to “unleash” the country’s energy resources to lower prices and grow the economy.
“The American people have suffered long enough as a result of this Administration’s disastrous energy policies,” he said. “Skyrocketing gas prices have cost the typical American household thousands of extra dollars since Biden took office. Enough is enough.
“Let’s unleash our natural resources, lower the burden on hardworking families, and finally put America first.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee