The House passed the energy package bill touted as the Republican’s top legislative priority on Thursday.
The legislation, Lower Energy Costs Act, passed in a 225-204 vote. Four Democrats voted in favor of the bill, namely: Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Vicente Gonzales (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.).
Republicans named the bill, H.R. 1, signifying it as the top priority on energy policy – the main theme of their 2022 campaign strategy.
The Lower Energy Cost Act is the top priority of Republicans on energy policy. (Photo: New York Post)
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The bill aims to enhance fossil fuel production, domestic mining, and exports. Another goal of this bill is to speed up the approval process for energy and other infrastructure projects. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), the bill’s sponsor, welcomes the news of its approval. He said the bill also focuses on helping financially struggling families living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Republicans vs. Democrats Stance on the Bill
The energy package bill is not expected to advance, at least in its entirety. However, Republicans plan to seek negotiations with Democrats on speeding up the approval process for energy infrastructure and other projects – known as permitting form bill. A bipartisan negotiation on the issue is ongoing.
Democrats sought to pass their version of permitting form bill last year, but Senate Republicans opposed it. As a result, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, rejected the GOP bill. He said there would be no negotiations on this bill, and performative reform is not a bipartisan solution.
With Thursday’s voting result, it ultimately ended up being bipartisan despite Democrats urging a “no” vote and renaming the bill as the “Polluters Over People Act.”
Rep. Vicente Gonzales (D-Texas) had expressed his support for the bill even before Thursday and said the legislation is “a step forward.” He said legislators must improve the federal environmental review and permitting processes to realize the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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