Republicans are fighting to undo Biden’s damage to energy markets
Rep. Bill Johnson
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On Election Day, Ohio and the nation made an important course correction. Voters from every corner of the country took back some of the power from Washington liberals by electing a Republican-led House of Representatives.
Republicans are back in charge, in good part because of persistently high energy prices. For the last two years, the Biden administration has launched a war on domestic energy production. By blocking energy infrastructure projects, erecting regulatory roadblocks, stalling energy infrastructure project permits, and imposing new taxes, the White House has done everything in its power to stop American energy at the expense of consumers. Since Joe Biden took office, we’ve seen record gasoline, heating, and electricity prices. People have had enough.
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In Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, we are proud of our natural gas energy workers, who are powering American homes and manufacturing and keeping the lights on for our communities. On the other hand, the Biden administration is doing everything it can to stop them and even put them out of work, which also means greater hardships for millions of consumers across the country.
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats passed a natural gas tax on our producers. That tax will result in higher prices for the people of Ohio. Even the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said, “[an energy] company’s increased expense is expected to be passed through, in part, to end users in the form of higher prices.” This Biden energy tax will make things much worse for already-struggling Americans.
That’s why the new Republican Congress is already taking action. We must get our energy production back on track. As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I am working hard to undo the damage that has been done. We are an energy superpower, and we need to act like one. And much of that cleaner, affordable, and reliable fuel is in eastern Ohio.
One of our top priorities is to abolish the natural gas tax and fight back on the EPA’s onerous “methane rule,” which, according to experts, will level $14 billion in compliance costs against the natural gas industry. This would be one of the most expensive federal regulations in history. Punishing consumers with higher prices because of hidden methane fees is terrible policy. I am confident that House Republicans will combat these wrongheaded policies this Congress.
Natural gas is not just an affordable fuel that provides thousands of jobs to communities in Ohio, it’s also playing a critical role in reducing emissions. Over the past 20 years, the United States has been a global leader in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The main reason for these reductions is the use of natural gas. Unlike renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, clean burning natural gas provides reliable and affordable power. America needs every energy source — and that certainly should include the robust reserves of natural gas we have in Appalachia. It certainly should not be discouraged with additional federal taxes and fees.
Republicans will continue taking action on the energy mandate we have been given by the voters. That means supporting rather than hurting America’s energy producers, workers, and consumers.
In addition to ending the natural gas tax, we plan to roll back Biden’s regulations on fossil fuels, reduce fuel prices for families, and achieve energy independence again. We are listening to the voters. Let’s hope that President Joe Biden and Democrats in the House and Senate will come to their senses and join us to pass these important bills.
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Bill Johnson represents Ohio’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.