Today, House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led committee Republicans in a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, asking the department to hear from those most impacted by the administration's domestic energy orders. In part, the members wrote: 

"We write in response to the forum held by the Department of the Interior on March 25, 2021 to discuss the federal oil and gas program. A public review process is long overdue, yet the Department should have completed any reviews and associated public comment periods before issuing directives halting the leasing program and creating administrative bottlenecks for existing leaseholders. Given the limited number of participants in this forum, the event was a missed opportunity to hear from those most affected by the Administration’s actions. Millions of Americans depend on oil and gas development for employment, stable energy prices, and economic wellbeing. It is critical that you hear from those most impacted to fully understand the consequences of policy decisions made in Washington D.C...

"A robust federal oil and gas program is vital to the economies of the Gulf coast, Western states, and the U.S. as a whole. We urge you to listen to a variety of impacted voices, not just those most convenient to your messaging, as you consider changes to the Administration’s program."

To read the full letter, click here.

Complete list of member signatories: U.S. Reps. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Jerry Carl (R-Ala.), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Garret Graves (R-La.), Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Blake Moore (R-Utah), Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).