Statement of Administration Policy: H.J. Res. 131 - Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted by the Bureau of Land Management Relating to "Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision"

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY

(House Rules)
(Rep. Begich, R-AK)

The Administration strongly supports passage of H.J. Res. 131, which would disapprove a Record of Decision issued by the Bureau of Land Management during the previous Administration. The 2024 Biden-era Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision imposed burdensome and unnecessary restrictions on oil and gas leasing in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an area set aside by Congress for potential oil and gas production, by reducing the acreage available for responsible development and imposing broad restrictions that undermine the Nation's energy security and economic interests.

The Record of Decision, against the wishes of those who actually live on the North Slope, effectively nullified statutory directives from Congress to establish and administer a competitive leasing program for the Coastal Plain by placing more than 1 million acres off limits and layering on operational constraints that make leasing commercially impracticable. This disastrous Record of Decision stifled the energy needs of our nation in unnecessary red tape, destroyed confidence in Federal leasing programs, and wreaked investment certainty across the energy sector.

President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy dominance and Alaska's extraordinary resource potential. Unlike the short-sighted and completely failed America-Last energy policies of the Biden Administration, President Trump prioritizes energy independence, global energy dominance against our adversaries, and high-paying job creation that supports Alaska's communities. The Trump Administration is committed to driving down energy costs, and putting hardworking Americans and their paychecks first.

If H.J. Res. 131 were presented to the President in its current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign it into law.