Democrats Try to Obstruct the American Energy Comeback

After Four Years of Kneecapping American Energy, Democrats Try to Stop Republicans from Righting the Ship

PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ENERGY POLICIES LEFT AMERICANS STRUGGLING

During President Biden’s time in office, energy, gasoline, electricity, and natural gas prices all skyrocketed:

Energy prices increased by 30.54%.
Gasoline prices increased by 30.50%.
Electricity prices increased by 28.55%.
Natural gas prices increased by 33.30%. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index News Release – 2/10/21; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index News Release – 1/15/25)

As a 2020 presidential candidate, Biden pledged, “I want you to look at my eyes. I guarantee you. I guarantee you. We’re going to end fossil fuel.” (The Associated Press: In intimate moment, Biden vows to ‘end fossil fuel’ – 9/6/19)

In his first week on the job, President Biden “signed a series of executive orders that prioritize climate change across all levels of government,” including a directive “to halt new oil and natural gas leases on public lands and waters.” (CNBC: Biden suspends oil and gas leasing in slew of executive actions on climate change – 1/27/21)

Bookending his anti-energy presidency, Biden banned offshore drilling across more than 625 million acres of ocean, a move seen as a “last-minute effort to block possible action by the incoming Trump administration to expand offshore drilling.” (CBS News: Biden bans new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters – 1/6/25)

Following the Biden administration’s onerous electric vehicle (EV) mandate, “companies are heavily subsidizing EVs with profits from gas-powered cars. This means middle-class Americans in Fargo are paying more for gas-powered cars so the affluent in Napa Valley can buy cheaper EVs.”

“Major auto makers have cut thousands of jobs in the past couple of years to finance their EV ‘transitions.’” (The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: Biden’s EV Mandate Blows Its Cover – 3/20/24)

DEMOCRATS ARE NOW ATTEMPTING TO TIE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S HANDS AS HE TRIES TO LOWER COSTS

On his first day in office, President Trump declared a national energy emergency with the overarching goal of boosting America’s energy supply and infrastructure in order to bolster economic and national security. (White House: Declaring A National Energy Emergency – 1/20/25)

Rather than work with President Trump and Republicans to make energy more accessible for Americans, Senate Democrats are forcing a vote on a resolution that would terminate President Trump’s declaration of a national energy emergency. (E&E News: Kaine, Heinrich try to scrap Trump ‘energy emergency’ order – 2/3/25)

Calling President Trump’s energy order a “sham,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) is leading the resolution, along with Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), which would reimpose Biden administration green energy policies over Republicans’ all-of-the-above energy strategy. (Roll Call: House budget, disapproval measures headline congressional schedule this week – 2/24/25)

57% of voters support President Trump’s policy of “[e]nding bans on offshore drilling in Alaska and elsewhere.” (Harvard-Harris Poll – Feb. 2025)

60% of Americans support expanding oil and gas production. (Marquette University Law School Poll – 2/12/25)

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE COMMITTED TO UNLEASHING AMERICAN ENERGY

On day one, President Trump issued an executive order that took a first step toward protecting the citizens of 12 states from burdensome emissions standards. The standards were permitted by a Biden administration waiver exempting these states from federal fuel standards. (NBC News: Trump's executive orders might threaten growth of electric vehicles and wind power – 1/23/25; White House: Unleashing American Energy – 1/20/25)

Last week, the Senate passed Republicans’ budget resolution, marking the first step in getting the country on track to achieve “energy independence by unleashing American energy production through on and offshore lease sales, and stopping the Biden Administration’s natural gas tax, also known as the methane emissions fee.” (U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget: Chairman Graham Unveils FY 2025 Budget Resolution To Secure The Border, Revitalize Our Military, Unleash American Energy Production And Begin The Process Of Restoring Fiscal Sanity – 2/7/25; S. Con. Res. 7: Roll Call Vote #87 – 2/21/25)

Next up, Congress will take action: “Enter Trump EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who on Friday submitted the California waiver to Congress for repeal under the Congressional Review Act. Under that law a simple majority of both chambers can overturn a regulation with a President’s signature. Passing a CRA resolution would be quicker than reversing the rule administratively.” (The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: California’s EV Mandate Goes to Congress for Repeal – 2/17/25)

Senate Republicans have proposed several Congressional Review Act resolutions to repeal Biden-era energy policies, from Sen. John Hoeven’s (R-N.D.) on the “methane fee,” to Sen. John Kennedy’s (R-La.) on offshore oil and gas production, to Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) on gas heaters. (Sen. Hoeven: Hoeven, Pfluger Continue Efforts to Block Biden’s Natural Gas Tax, Alleviate Burden on U.S. Domestic Energy Production – 2/4/25; Sen. Kennedy: Kennedy introduces resolution to repeal Biden admin rule targeting offshore oil and gas production – 2/4/25; Sen. Cruz: Sen. Cruz Introduces Resolution to Repeal Biden Appliances Rule on Gas Heaters – 1/23/25)