Energy Workforce President Tim Tarpley testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee on restoring American energy dominance through the development of U.S. offshore energy resources. Alongside Tarpley, the oversight hearing included Chett Chiasson, Greater Lafourche Port Commission; T. Lane Wilson, Williams Companies; delivering a strong message on the urgent need to reverse restrictive policies that threaten U.S. energy security, jobs, and economic stability.
In his testimony, Tarpley emphasized how the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf holds vast untapped energy reserves critical to U.S. energy independence, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in economic contributions. Unfortunately, the Biden administration’s delayed and restrictive offshore leasing plan jeopardized long-term energy supply, increases costs for American families, and drives investment overseas.
“Delays and bureaucratic roadblocks hurt our energy security along with our economy. Currently the Gulf of America offshore oil and natural gas industry supports 370,000 jobs in the U.S. and contributed approximately $30.8 billion to the USD GDP. Looking ahead annual offshore oil and gas investment is expected to remain significant averaging $30 billion per year.”
The Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee, currently chaired by Rep. Stauber (MN-08), oversees American energy production and mining on federal lands – both onshore and offshore. Important to the energy services sector, the jurisdiction of the subcommittee includes “all matters related to the leasing, development and conversation fossil fuel resources… on the outer Continental Shelf” amongst other matters related to energy development on federal lands.
In order to codify the number of lease sales conducted each year, Congressional Republicans support legislation requiring the Secretary of Interior to conduct certain offshore lease sales. The bill, known as the “BRIDGE Production Act”, would require two offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America and one in the Cook Inlet Planning Area every two years. To unleash the full potential of American energy production, Congress must act to roll back harmful policies and restore regulatory certainty.
The hearing is available for replay online: https://www.youtube.com/live/tlUK5ZemZqw
Maria Suarez-Simmons, Senior Director Energy Policy, writes about industry-specific policies for the Energy Workforce & Technology Council. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
