Bruce Westerman: “I oppose this unnecessary amendment as it would strike a provision in the bill that reinforces current law and requires…”

“I oppose this unnecessary amendment as it would strike a provision in the bill that reinforces current law and requires the Bureau of Land Management to resolve protests to oil and gas lease sales within 60 days of payment by the winning bidder. This amendment proposes a standard of accountability for Federal agencies that is worse than the status quo. In current practice, the BLM resolves most protests before lease sales even occur. For example, when the BLM's New Mexico State office received formal protests for their June 30, 2022, oil and gas lease sale, BLM was able to review and respond to the protests by June 29, completing the process in 42 days and before the sale even occurred. Once a lease is bid on and won, current law requires leases to be issued within 60 days following payment by the successful bidder. This amendment strikes a good governance provision that does nothing more than reaffirms current law. Just yesterday, DOI Secretary Deb Haaland testified before the House Appropriations Committee where she stated: ``Energy independence is a priority to President Biden.'' If energy independence is a priority to President Biden, then House Democrats should not be taking our Nation backward. Let's not undo current law that is actually working. For those reasons, I oppose this amendment, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in opposition. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.”