From staff reports Oklahoma’s congressional delegation and other U.S. House Republicans rebuked the White House’s recent moves to restrict oil and gas exploration in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve and Artic National Wildlife Refuge.
The House passed H.R 6285, Alaska’s Right to Produce Act, with the help of Oklahoma Reps. Stephanie Bice, Josh Brecheen, Kevin Hern, and Frank Lucas. Rep. Tom Cole abstained. The final vote was 214-199.
House Democrats attempted to recommit the measure before the f inal vote. Such a vote is al lowable as a f inal chance to de bate and apply bill amendments. The measure failed 201-211 with the same Oklahoma Representatives dissenting and/or abstaining.
Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse and Minnesota Rep. Pete Stauber, leaders of the Western Caucus, released a statemen t following the bill ’s approval.
“Alaska is blessed with abundant natural resources, yet the Biden administration has declared war on energy production there,” said Chairman Newhouse. “Rural and native communities rely on energy production for their livelihoods and our country needs these resources to achieve energy independence. It’s time for this assault on Alaskan energy to cease.”
Caucus Vice Chair Stauber also criticized the Biden administr ation’s attempted restriction.
“From Minnesota to Alaska, President Biden has r epeatedly prevented the responsible production of America’s abundance of natural resources,” he said. “First it was the enactment of a mining ban in nor thern Minnesota, and now he has turned his focus to Alaska, where he has enacted 63 sanctions to block resource development.”
The bill will permit oil a nd gas drilling in the Ar tic National Wildlife Refuge, stop future leaders from canceling drilling leases there and more.