Congressmen Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) released statements in the last few days noting the record-high fuel prices and urging the Biden Administration to loosen its restrictions on domestic oil and gas production.
“This month we saw gas hit record highs in every state, with the national average reaching $4.58 per gallon,” Aderholt wrote in an email to constituents on Saturday. “Around Haleyville this week, it's been around $4.19-$4.29. I'm sure it's similar where you live. Too high!
“After banning the importation of Russian oil, House Republicans called on President Biden to reopen U.S. pipelines and approve new drilling leases. Instead, he lifted sanctions on Venezuelan oil, allowing negotiations with Venezuelan socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro. Biden’s proposed solution to the crisis is to stop importing oil from one authoritarian regime and start importing it from another. We need to see our pipelines flowing, approve new leases for American oil, and prioritize energy independence by not depending on dictators to fuel our country.”
Brooks said in a post on social media, “Gas prices are soaring right now. The average price of gas in the U.S. hit a high of $4.59 this week, about 51% higher than a year ago. Yet, the Biden Administration continues to make excuses when we could drill instead of being reliant on other countries for oil.”
The White House is blaming the oil and gas industry on high gas and diesel prices.
“Well, we know the Department of Interior made quite clear that they canceled the Cook Inlet project because there was a lack of industry interest,” said outgoing White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki when asked about gas prices and drilling by the White House press corps on May 13. “That’s not actually the issue. The issue, if we take a step back, is that leasing and production offshore is a lengthier process, taking up to 10 years. Mo- — second, of the more than 10.9 million offshore acres currently under lease, industry is not producing on 8.26 million acres. That’s 75 percent that is non-producing. Of the 24.9 million onshore acres under lease, industry is not producing 12.3 million. That’s almost 50%. And there are almost 9,000 onshore permits. The issue is not permits. There are plenty of places for oil — for oil companies to drill on. They’re not. That is the issue.”
Brooks is a U.S. Senate candidate. Brooks and former lobbyist Katie Boyd Britt face each other in the Republican primary runoff for the U.S. Senate on June 21.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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