Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) led 25 of his House Republican colleagues in sending a letter to Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller General, Gene Dodaro, urging the GAO to evaluate if the Department of Interior’s recent cancellation of seven oil and gas lease permits constitutes a “rule” for purposes of the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

 

On September 6th, the Biden Administration’s Department of Interior announced the cancellation of seven oil and gas lease permits covering 365,000 acres in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). 

 

“This latest decision by the Department of Interior is nothing more than a continuation of the Biden Administration’s war on America’s energy independence,” the lawmakers wrote. “Under President Trump’s America-first agenda, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law in December 2017, established an oil and gas leasing program in the Coastal Plain of the ANWR – increasing our nation’s energy security and lowering oil and gas prices for hardworking Americans. The oil and gas leases in the Coastal Plain, canceled by the Biden Administration, account for less than 2% of the entire range of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, while providing a potential of 7.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil.”

 

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Clyde, note this decision marks an escalation of the Biden Administration’s anti-American energy attack on the ANWR and subverts the will of Congress.

 

“On President Biden’s first day in office, he issued Executive Order 13990, titled ‘Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,’ which provided a temporary moratorium on the statutorily mandated oil and gas lease activities in the Coastal Plain. Now, President Biden’s Secretary of Interior is completely canceling the congressionally mandated oil and gas lease permits in the Coastal Plain while citing a dubious source of statutory authority. This is circumventing the democratic process and subverting the will of Congress.”

 

In order to hold the Biden Administration accountable for this reckless anti-American energy policy, the lawmakers requested Comptroller General Gene Dodaro to determine whether the Department of Interior’s decision constitutes a “rule” for applicability to the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to review major rules issued by federal agencies before the rules take effect.

 

“Congress must ensure that the Biden Administration follows the law and does not circumvent the will of the legislature, and the Congressional Review Act is our method of doing so. Thankfully, House Republicans have utilized this tool to prevent the Biden Administration’s disastrous Student Loan Bailout, overbearing Environmental Protection Agency regulations, and radical expansion of ESG standards in employee retirement plans. However, Congress must put a stop to the Biden Administration’s latest action in its war on America’s energy independence to safeguard our national security and ensure gas prices remain low for hardworking Americans.”

 

Therefore, we respectfully request a determination as to whether or not the Government Accountability Office agrees with our determination that the Congressional Review Act is applicable to this ‘rule.’”

 

Full text of the letter is available HERE.

 

Co-signers include Representatives Jim Baird (IN-04), Aaron Bean (FL-04), Josh Brecheen (OK-02), Ben Cline (VA-06), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Russ Fulcher (ID-01), Bob Good (VA-05), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Michael Guest (MS-03), Andy Harris (MD-01), Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Doug Lamborn (CO-05), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Carol Miller (WV-01), Barry Moore (AL-02), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Matt Rosendale (MT-02), Chip Roy (TX-21), George Santos (NY-03), and Rudy Yakym (IN-02).

 

Supporting organizations include the American Petroleum Institute, Competitive Enterprise Institute, and Citizens for Renewing America.

 

“The Biden administration has been going all out to block oil and gas lease sales, including in Alaska. Congress has an important tool to push back against this war on energy, and that is the Congressional Review Act (CRA). Representative Clyde should be commended for taking action to confirm that the recent cancellation of leases in ANWR is subject to the CRA. This will help to start the process of getting a CRA resolution of disapproval passed as well as making it clear that Congress rejects the Biden administration’s continued attacks on reliable and affordable energy,” said Daren Bakst, Director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Energy.