March 20, 2024
Reschenthaler Manages Rule Debate on Energy Week Measures
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) delivered the following remarks on the House floor when he managed the Rule Debate on several measures to restore American energy dominance and counter President Biden’s attacks on domestic energy production.
The bills under consideration include H.R. 1023, the Cutting Green Corruption and Taxes Act, H.R. 1121, the Protecting American Energy Production Act, H.R. 6009, the Restoring American Energy Dominance Act, H.R. 7023, the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, H. Res. 987, a resolution denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and H. Con. Res. 86, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.
As prepared for delivery:
“Mr. Speaker, since President Joe Biden took office, energy costs for Americans have risen by 28.6 percent.
On January 20, 2021, a gallon of gasoline was $2.39.
During President Biden’s presidency, the average price reached a record-high of $5 per gallon.
This is a direct result of the president’s far-left, Green New Deal agenda that spent trillions of dollars and enacted costly regulations on the American family.
The underlying legislation before us this week will help unlock and unleash American energy independence and block President Biden’s war on the American worker.
For example, H.R. 1023 will eliminate the 27 billion dollar Green New Deal slush fund for coastal elites and Chinese communists.
We know China dominates the extraction, processing, and production of rare earth metals and critical minerals.
Solar panels, windmills, and EVs rely heavily on these materials, which further deepens our dependence on China.
This legislation will also repeal the proposed natural gas tax that will burden so many American energy producers in southwestern Pennsylvania and across this nation.
In addition, H.R. 1121 will block the president from declaring a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
In 2019 then-candidate Joe Biden expressed his support to ban fracking.
The president said 'we would make sure it's eliminated' when asked about the future of coal and fracking.
He then stated in March 2020, 'No more… no new fracking.'
That’s why, this week, House Republicans will block his ability to ban fracking and do irreparable harm to American workers.
Lastly, H.R. 7023 will build upon the progress under H.R. 1 and the Fiscal Responsibility Act to help reform our permitting process.
This bill will streamline the permitting process under the Clean Water Act, instruct the administration to issue guidance that complies with the Supreme Court ruling in Sackett vs. EPA, and protect permit holders from frivolous lawsuits.
I urge my colleagues to support this rule and reserve the balance of my time.”