It’s Time to TAP into American Energy

Americans are struggling to pay the price for President Joe Biden’s energy policies. This winter, families are expected to pay the highest prices in over a decade to heat their homes. Natural gas prices continue to remain near a 14-year-high. As of Sunday, the national price for a gallon of gas was approximately $3.71 – over a dollar more than when President Biden took office. As Arkansans know, high energy costs effect every industry, especially food. When farm input prices on fuel and fertilizer increase, every American feels the strain at the grocery store.

The U.S. has the ability to produce the most efficient, cleanest energy in the world. We can easily meet our own needs and export to our allies. There is no reason to rely on the good will of dictators like those of Russia and Venezuela to power our economy.

That is why I introduced the Transparency and Production of (TAP) American Energy Act. The TAP American Energy Act responsibly opens access to our rich natural resources, reforming and streamlining permitting processes, and incentivizing innovation.

My bill would prevent any president from imposing bans on federal energy leasing and mineral withdrawals without congressional approval, require the Department of the Interior to immediately resume quarterly lease sales on federal lands, with a minimum of four lease sales per year in each state with eligible lands, and require a minimum of two annual oil and gas lease sales in available federal waters in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. My bill would also streamline the environmental review process to allow pipeline, renewable energy, and transmission projects to move forwards efficiently, without compromising environmental protections.

It's time to reverse President Biden’s war on American energy and become fully energy independent. This is a pivotal part of the Republican Commitment to America: to maximize American-made energy and reduce reliance on foreign countries.

We cannot simply rely on our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which is meant for natural disasters or national security emergencies, to bring down gas prices, as President Biden has done. The SPR is now at its lowest point since 1984 for no reason other than to cover for the consequences of President Biden’s anti-energy policies. I am proud to lead this effort to bring down energy costs for the county and strengthen our national security by securing our energy independence.