The Republican-controlled House has passed a bill aimed at preventing future administrations from imposing bans on oil and gas drilling without congressional approval.
The “Protecting American Energy Production Act” was approved in a Friday vote, which would stop the president from implementing a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) unless Congress agrees to it. The bill passed with unanimous support from Republicans, while 118 Democrats voted against it.
This legislation follows former President Joe Biden’s regulations on oil and gas, including a ban on drilling in 625 million acres of coastal and offshore waters shortly before leaving office.
Rep. August Pfluger, a Texas Republican and the bill’s sponsor, cited concerns over potential fracking bans during Biden’s presidency as the catalyst for the legislation. Pfluger criticized the Biden administration for its approach to energy production and emphasized that the bill would help reverse what he called Biden’s “war on energy.”
If the bill becomes law, it would prevent any future administration from banning hydraulic fracturing without approval from Congress.
The legislation is aligned with former President Donald Trump’s stance to prioritize American-made energy, reflected in his “drill, baby, drill” agenda.
