The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill that aims to boost domestic oil and gas production by rolling back certain environmental review requirements. The measure, known as the Lower Energy Costs Act, passed 225-204.
Republican Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana introduced the legislation, which has drawn backing from a few dozen House Republicans. Among them is Juan Ciscomani, who represents southern Arizona. Supporters say the bill will bring down energy costs.
The proposal seeks to raise U.S. production and exports of oil, gas and other minerals. It would do so by waiving some review requirements for companies and their operations, and by lowering the fees those companies must pay, known as royalties.
The vote largely followed party lines. Four Democrats were the exception, voting in favor of the bill.
Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, a critic of the measure, said it undermines protective laws that have stood for decades. "It says to big gas and big oil, the public lands are there, and we are going to now weaken fundamental laws that protect the American people that were put in place in the seventies as a consequence of the pollution and the harm it was causing across the country, to all life," he said.
Grijalva said the affected laws include the National Environmental Protection Act of 1969 and other legislation designed to safeguard resources such as water. He also disputed the claim that the bill would reduce prices at the pump. In his view, it would limit the public's ability to weigh in on how public land is used and would direct profits elsewhere.
He also took aim at the royalty reductions. Lowering fees on an industry that he said has posted record profits while gouging consumers, with much of the money going back to shareholders as dividends, would "open the floodgates for locking up public land," he said.
Grijalva argued the bill would reduce the role of public health and safety considerations in a direct way. He said it would empower big gas, big oil and the mining industry to set energy policy and production for the American people.
