On Historic Trip to Alaska, Committee Continues Commitment to Domestic Energy Production

This week, members of the House Committee on Natural Resources traveled to Alaska for a variety of site visits including the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) and the Native Village of Nuiqsut. Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) issued the following statement in response:

"This week, I was proud to join Governor Dunleavy, Senator Sullivan, and my colleagues on the House Natural Resources Committee to see first-hand the vast natural resources that Alaska is blessed with, including oil and natural gas that helps power our American economy and mineral deposits that are necessary for our country's future. Each and every day, Alaskans prove that these resources are developed in a safe and responsible manner. It is beyond shameful and darn near criminal that the Biden-Harris Administration has punished Alaska with 66 executive actions aimed squarely at preventing Alaskans from developing their vast, God-given natural resources. This Administration pushes these punitive actions without properly consulting Alaska Native communities and other Alaskans that these decisions affect the most. These are all part of the Biden-Harris Administration's 'anywhere but America, any worker but America' energy and mineral agenda.

"I'm proud to have introduced the Alaska's Right to Produce Act, which would reverse the Biden-Harris Administration's dangerous policies blocking oil and gas development in ANWR and the NPR-A. This bill passed the House this spring in a bipartisan fashion and now sits on Chuck Schumer's desk. House Natural Resources Committee Republicans will continue to stand up for Alaska's right to produce their natural resources and help cement our nation's energy and mineral independence."

Background

The delegation's historic trip to Alaska included Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Subcommittee on Federal Lands Chairman Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), U.S. Reps. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) and Mary Pelota (D-Alaska).

Members met with local, native and state leaders as well as stakeholders and Governor Mike Dunleavy in Anchorage. At the meetings, the delegation heard how Alaskans and the country will benefit from the state's rich resources.

In September 2023, the Biden-Harris administration canceled previously issued leases in the ANWR, ignoring statutory requirements and threatening a critical lifeline of future revenues for Alaskan Native communities. More recently, the administration proposed a rule for management of the NPR-A that would effectively lock up 13 million acres for future energy production. These decisions will have devastating economic impacts on local communities, as well as jeopardize our national security by limiting domestic energy production.

To reverse these policies, the Committee on Natural Resources considered H.R. 6285, "Alaska's Right to Produce Act of 2023," which will reinstate the previously issued ANWR leases as required by law and cancel the proposed NPR-A rule. The Alaska's Right to Produce Act of 2023 passed with bipartisan support, a 214-199, 2 Present vote, in the House of Representatives in May 2024. This trip was an important opportunity for committee members to meet with local community leaders in Alaska who have been ignored by the Biden-Harris administration and learn more about why these actions taken by the administration are detrimental to their way of life.

Oil and natural gas production in Alaska generated $3.1 billion in state and local revenue in 2019 and supported over 77,000 direct and indirect jobs, which is about 25% of all jobs in the state. Many of these jobs and revenue directly impact Alaskan Native communities living on and around the North Slope. These revenues made up 38% of Alaska's General Fund revenue in 2019 and were responsible for 90% of state revenues from business the same year. The State of Alaska receives 50% of the bonuses, rents, and royalties received from oil and gas production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the NPR-A. These funds support public projects and services across the state.