Mr. President, I wish to speak today about legislation I am introducing to spur American energy development on Federal land. This is the Opportunities for the Nation and States to Harness Onshore…
Mr. President, I wish to speak today about legislation I am introducing to spur American energy development on Federal land. This is the Opportunities for the Nation and States to Harness Onshore Resources for Energy Act. It is also known as the ONSHORE Act. It is a commonsense approach that streamlines the permitting process for oil and gas development.
Oil and gas production has increased dramatically on non-Federal land in recent years. Production on Federal land has fallen behind. That is because energy producers face costly delays when they have to deal with outdated and inefficient regulations from Washington, DC.
The legislation we are introducing reduces these unnecessary delays by giving authority to States that have established regulatory programs. Let's let the States make those decisions. These are States that have a proven track record of managing oil and gas development efficiently and effectively. At the same time, they protect the public health and the environment. That is the balance we all want--and these States are doing it--without Washington adding another unnecessary layer of redtape.
In 2016, it took an average of more than 250 days for the Federal Bureau of Land Management to issue permits to drill for oil on public land. It took State agencies an average of 30 days. Look at the difference--States, 30 days; Federal, 250 days. That is the difference in what happens when Washington gets involved. The delays cost jobs, they slow down economic growth, and communities lose important tax revenue.
My home State of Wyoming is America's largest producer of natural gas, and we are the second largest producer of oil on Federal lands. Wyoming has a long history of managing oil and gas development on Federal lands. We know how to do it. We do it safely. We do it responsibly. Wyoming continues to be the place people from all over the world want to see because of how beautiful the scenery and the environment are. This legislation strips away that needless layer of Washington regulation, and it lets States like Wyoming manage oil and gas development the way we know how to do it.
Our legislation also eliminates the administrative fee that gets taken out of States' share of revenues from oil and gas production. Washington takes money that has been created locally, and it sends the money out of the community and back to Washington. This is millions of dollars that States and local communities need to fund vital public services. Our bill ends this unfair redistribution.
The ONSHORE Act also stops Washington from imposing extra permitting burdens and environmental reviews on energy development that takes place on non-Federal lands. These requirements are a classic example of Washington overreach. They don't help the environment; they just keep oil and gas in the ground and keep hard-working Americans out of work. This legislation will create jobs and expand our economy by creating an environment where American energy can dominate.
I want to thank the cosponsors of this legislation for their support--Senators Hoeven, Enzi, Lee, and Hatch. I also want to thank my colleagues in the House for starting this conversation with their bill, which is called the SECURE American Energy Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation as quickly as possible.
