Lubbock Times

This week, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington celebrated the passage of H.J.Res.35 in the House of Representatives. The resolution, led by Arrington and Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, aims to support President Trump's energy agenda by cutting energy costs. It seeks to overturn efforts by the Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to impose the Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) on petroleum and natural gas producers.

Chairman Arrington stated, "The Waste Emissions Charge was just another unnecessary and wasteful regulation levied by the Biden EPA to go after oil and gas – the lifeblood of our economy." He expressed pride in working with Rep. August Pfluger to pass legislation that supports independent oil and gas companies.

Chairman Pfluger emphasized that "In November, the American people overwhelmingly voted for lower energy prices," adding that House Republicans are taking steps toward fulfilling this mandate. He described his bill as an effort to nullify what he termed an ill-conceived natural gas tax imposed by the EPA under Biden's policies.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson commented on the rollback of what he called a "disastrous natural gas tax imposed by Democrats," stating it had increased reliance on foreign energy without providing environmental benefits. He noted that House Republicans are using the Congressional Review Act to reverse policies from what he referred to as "the Biden Administration’s war on American energy."

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise criticized the WEC as a cost burden for consumers, asserting it raises prices while offering little environmental benefit. Scalise warned that such regulations could reduce domestic energy production and increase dependence on foreign sources, posing a threat to national security.

The text of H.J.Res.35 is available for public access.