2023: Fitzpatrick Voted For A GOP Debt Limit Package, Which Would
Include The Lower Energy Costs Act To Boost Domestic Production Of
Fossil Fuels And Critical Minerals, Streamline Natural Gas Pipeline
Construction, And Repeal Biden Administration Energy And Climate Change
Policies. In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which would
"also include a range of provisions to limit federal spending, as well
as the text of a previously passed energy and permitting policy package.
[...] It would also include the full text of the House-passed energy
and permitting package (HR 1) that would require a number of actions to
boost the domestic production of fossil fuels and certain critical
minerals and accelerate the construction of natural gas pipelines and
other energy infrastructure, while reversing or repealing certain
presidential actions taken and laws enacted during the Biden
administration related to energy policy and climate change." The vote
was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 215, thus
the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 199,
4/26/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 4/26/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2811]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The Lower Energy Costs Act, Which
Sought To Boost Domestic Production Of Fossil Fuels And Critical
Minerals, Streamline Natural Gas Pipeline Construction, And Repeal Biden
Administration Energy And Climate Change Policies. In March 2023,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the
Lower Energy Costs Act, which would "require a number of actions to
boost the domestic production of fossil fuels and critical minerals,
accelerate the construction of natural gas pipelines and other energy
infrastructure, and reverse or repeal certain recent policies related to
energy and climate change." The vote was on passage. The House passed
the bill by a vote of 225 to 204, thus the bill was sent to the Senate
for their consideration. [House Vote 182,
3/30/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/30/23;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
The Bill Would Generally Decrease Federal Shares And Increase
State Shares In Revenue Sharing For Onshore And Offshore
Production. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would adjust
revenue sharing requirements for onshore and offshore production to
generally decrease federal shares and increase state shares,
particularly for coastal states." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/30/23]
The Bill Would Require Annual Geothermal Lease Sales, End A
Moratorium On New Coal Leasing, And Approve Of Previously Authorized
Coal Leases. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also
require annual geothermal lease sales; terminate a moratorium on new
coal leasing; and provide for final approval of previously
authorized coal leases." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/30/23]
The Bill Would Streamline The Permitting Process Under The
National Environmental Policy Act, Require More Oil And Gas Lease
Sales, And Encourage The Export Of Liquefied Natural Gas.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would accelerate the
permitting process under the National Environmental Policy Act,
mandate more oil and gas lease sales and support the export of
liquefied natural gas, or LNG." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/30/23]
The Bill Passed After The Intergovernmental Panel On Climate
Change Urged Action To Swiftly Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions And
End Burning Fossil Fuels To Prevent Catastrophic Climate Change.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Passage comes a little more
than a week after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the
world's leading body of climate scientists, warned humanity must
work swiftly to slash greenhouse gas emissions and stop burning
fossil fuels to avert catastrophic rapid climate change."
[Congressional Quarterly,
3/30/23]
The Bill Would Require The Interior Department To Continue
Quarterly Lease Sales Of Oil And Gas, End A Moratorium On Coal
Leasing In Federal Lands, And Bar The President From Banning
Fracking. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The legislation
passed Thursday requires the Interior Department to complete
quarterly lease sales of oil and gas, lift a moratorium on coal
leasing on federal land and prohibit the president from declaring a
national ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking." [Congressional
Quarterly, 3/30/23]
Republicans Claimed The Bill Would Decrease Domestic Prices Of Gas
And Electricity, While Democrats Argued The Bill Was Misguided And
The U.S. Should Be Investing In Renewable Energy. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans claim the measure (HR 1) would
lower domestic prices of gas and electricity. Democrats have argued
the bill, which would repeal a series of climate provisions, is
misguided at a time when the U.S. should be focused on investing in
renewable fuel sources." [Congressional Quarterly,
3/30/23]
The Biden Administration Opposed The Bill, Arguing That Domestic
Oil And Gas Production Was Set To Reach Record Highs In 2023.
According to Politico, "In its statement of administration policy
opposing the bill, the White House noted that both domestic oil and
gas production are set to reach record highs this year as companies
have responded to last year's high prices to bring more supply to
the market. Gasoline prices have come down from record highs since
the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year but they
could be set to rise again this summer during peak driving season."
[Politico,
3/30/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Lower Energy Costs Act.
In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the "adoption of the rule (H Res 260) that would provide for floor
consideration of the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1). The rule would
provide for up to seven hours of general debate on HR 1 and make in
order floor consideration of 37 amendments to the bill. It would provide
for automatic adoption of a Westerman, R-Ark., manager's amendment to
HR 1 that would sunset on Sept. 30, 2032, a title of the bill that would
reduce the federal share of revenue and provide for direct revenue
sharing to states from certain Outer Continental Shelf and other
offshore wind projects." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The
House adopted the rule by a vote of 218 to 203. [House Vote 166,
3/28/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/28/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
260;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Lower Energy Costs Act.
In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted
for the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and
possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 260) that would provide for
floor consideration of the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1). The rule would
provide for up to seven hours of general debate on HR 1 and make in
order floor consideration of 37 amendments to the bill. It would provide
for automatic adoption of a Westerman, R-Ark., manager's amendment to
HR 1 that would sunset on Sept. 30, 2032, a title of the bill that would
reduce the federal share of revenue and provide for direct revenue
sharing to states from certain Outer Continental Shelf and other
offshore wind projects." The vote was on a motion order the previous
question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 218 to 203.
[House Vote 165, 3/28/23; Congressional Quarterly,
3/28/23; Congressional Actions,
H.Res.
260;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted To Reduce Funding For Fossil Fuel Research And
Development By $355 Million And To Increase Funding For Energy
Efficiently And Renewable Energy By $177 Million. In July 2017,
Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "increase[d] by $177 million funding to the
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy account and would [have]
reduce[d] by $355 million funding to the Fossil Fuel Research and
Development account." The underlying legislation was an FY 18 'minibus'
appropriations bill. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 181
to 246. [House Vote 420,
7/26/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/26/17; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
234;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3219]