Congresswoman Harriet Hageman and Senator Dan Sullivan introduced the Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act to stop the federal government from inflicting energy poverty on the American people. The bill requires reviews of existing energy laws and regulations to determine if they are adversely impacting energy prices, and establishes metrics to ensure future laws and regulations do not inflict energy poverty on at risk communities. This legislation responds directly to President Biden’s targeting of resource producing states like Wyoming at the expense of all Americans who benefit from reliable and affordable energy.
Rep. Hageman stated, “Supply versus demand is the most basic economic concept. Yet, Congressional majorities and presidential administrations led by climate crazed politicians, rather than statesmen, , have artificially destroyed supply while demand for energy resources continues to grow. Whether it was President Biden or Obama, Speaker Pelosi or Leader Schumer, these so-called leaders have waged war against American coal and oil and gas, all the while knowing they cannot replace the very energy resources they are undermining.”
“These same officials roll out strategies promoting “environmental justice” and “economic equity” (while never defining either). Yet, it is ultimately our fellow Americans who struggle to make ends meet when the price at the pump goes up, energy bills reach record highs, and the grocery bill doubles. My bill would expose this culture of false promises by requiring the government to disclose how it currently and in the future will inflict disparate economic pain on at-risk communities across this country.”
“America’s natural beauty comes from our clean, abundant resources which has provided a quality of life and level of prosperity humanity has never previously seen. Americans suffer from government-imposed wretchedness, and we must chart a new course. The Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act will empower the People and their elected representatives to identify those bad actors intentionally turning off the lights, while holding these officials and their policies accountable. Reform is needed, and this legislation will identify the perpetrators of this government created crisis.”
“The people most negatively impacted by the Biden administration’s war on American energy have been those in our rural, elderly, and lower-income communities,” Senator Sullivan said.
“Under the guise of ‘environmental justice,’ the Biden administration’s hypocritical and short-sighted policies have increased costs on hard-working Americans and disproportionately harmed the very people, particularly Alaska Native communities, this administration so often claims to champion. Just last week, the Department of the Interior announced it was locking up millions of acres of land set aside for resource development, ignoring the objections of the Alaska Native people who live in the area and threatening their economic future.”
Supporting Organizations Statements on the Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act:
• “At-risk communities take on added economic burdens with the ever-fluctuating rules and regulations aimed at the energy industry which results in increased vulnerability and economic setbacks. USOGA urges Congress to increase transparency by mandating analyses by the Office of Management and Budget, the Government Accountability Office, and the Congressional Budget Office on the effects of new energy policies.” – Tim Stewart, President, U.S. Oil and Gas Association
• “U.S. energy producers can deliver affordable and reliable energy for all Americans, however, government regulations targeting the energy industry have caused increases in energy costs that disproportionately impact at-risk communities. The Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act ensures our U.S. energy companies can produce reliable and affordable energy to meet demand, while guaranteeing energy security for the communities that need it most.” – Tim Tarpley, President, Energy Workforce & Technology Council
• “Skyrocketing energy costs are crushing the livelihoods of vulnerable populations such as low-income, minority, rural, elderly, and indigenous communities…The Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act is the right step toward curbing the out-of-control costs of regulation and government overreach driving the epidemic of energy poverty in this country.” – Derrick Hollie, The Energy Poverty Prevention Project