Republicans launch effort to overturn Biden restrictions on fossil fuel production

Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate are joining forces in a bid to overturn President Joe Biden's onerous restrictions through the Environmental Protection Agency on oil and natural gas drilling in the U.S.

Texas Republican Reps. Jodey Arrington and August Pfluger and Tracey Mann (R-KS) in the House and Sens. Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Steve Daines (R-MT) in the Senate are leading the effort, which will need some Democrat support in the Senate if it is to pass this year.

The pertinent regulations restrict methane emissions and other pollutants from fossil fuels. "The overly broad and burdensome methane rule is yet another example of President Biden weaponizing the regulatory state to appease climate activists at the expense of the American people," Arrington said.

"One of the only promises President Biden has followed through on is his campaign vow to end fossil fuels," Pfluger said. "This methane rule imposes unworkable burdensome restrictions on energy producers in regions like the Permian Basin that I represent and others around the nation."

Mann said that the regulations would "crush" energy producers and lead to higher prices for consumers who have already been hit with steep increases in costs of oil and gas over the last few years, but Biden officials consider the regulations "critical" to "slow the rate of climate change."

"Energy costs have significantly risen nationwide, and Americans are feeling it. Piling on regulatory burdens on the oil and natural gas industry at this time would only further exacerbate this trend," Marshall said. "The Biden administration has taken their war on American energy and oil producers too far."