Chamber630: Letter To The President

Press release from the Chamber630:

Mar 15, 2022

March 15, 2022

Via Email

President Joe Biden

The White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We appreciate your attention to the financial impact that energy issues, including the current geopolitical strife, existing and proposed policies, and the post-pandemic economic recovery are having on American’s daily lives. As you know, increased costs for motor fuels and home heating are among the most significant financial obligations our citizens and businesses face. Coupled with overall inflation, which is compounded by surging energy prices, Americans are paying more for all goods and services – from a gallon of milk to an Uber ride – as manufacturers and service providers try to recover their energy costs.

It’s important to remember that the U.S. led the world in oil and natural gas production with record highs in 2019, and the benefits of that status was shared by producing and non-producing states alike. The oil and natural gas industry comprised more than 11.3 million total jobs or 5.6 percent of total U.S. employment. This accounted for more than $892.7 billion in labor income, or 6.8 percent of our nation’s labor income.

The industry represents a significant part of our nation’s economic and fiscal future, and our energy independence hinges on sound policy that incentivizes resource development, modernizes energy infrastructure, and streamlines burdensome regulations.

• Provide certainty on oil and natural gas leasing by compelling the Department of Interior (DOI) to meet deadlines and honor its obligation to lease on federal lands and waters.
• Permit energy infrastructure and halt the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s increased regulatory barriers for approving natural gas pipelines.
• Execute the laws that mandate the DOI to complete a long-term offshore program to avoid unnecessary production and development disruption. No offshore lease sales can be held without the five-year program in place and the next program, which should be in place by July 1, is severely behind schedule, and will not be finalized by the time the current program expires.

This press release was produced by the Chamber630. The views expressed here are the author’s own.