Blake Moore: “When the gentleman says perspective, the part I would like to highlight is that it is about balance. I am going to speak…”

“When the gentleman says perspective, the part I would like to highlight is that it is about balance. I am going to speak to that in a little bit, but before my comments get drowned out in some of the prepared statements, making sure there is balance benefits all, and it is something that I am really passionate about and Utahns are passionate about. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on the Biden administration to reverse its unilateral orders, including Executive Order 14008 pausing new oil and gas leases on Federal land; Secretarial Order 3395 suspending mineral leasing and permits; and Executive Order 13990 revoking the Keystone XL pipeline permit. Utah, as the gentleman mentioned, has the second highest percentage of federally owned land at about 65 percent. Approximately 10,000 Utahns rely on the oil and gas industry for their employment and livelihoods. These orders will result in Utah families losing their jobs and will reduce crucial funding for conservation programs that protect the natural wonders of my home State and our great country. They will make our country more reliant on imported energy from other countries with lower environmental standards than our own and weaken our national security foothold. Restricting extraction has real costs for our schools, our first responders, and public services.…”