Overview
- The House Natural Resources Committee approved a GOP-led bill to increase fossil fuel production and mining on public lands by a 26-17 vote, with one Democrat joining Republicans.
- The bill mandates 30 offshore drilling lease auctions in the Gulf of Mexico and six in Alaska's Cook Inlet over 15 years, alongside expanded Arctic drilling opportunities.
- A last-minute amendment authorizes the sale of public lands in Nevada and Utah, with some parcels designated for affordable housing, sparking bipartisan criticism.
- The legislation reduces royalty rates for oil, gas, and coal extraction, projects $18.5 billion in revenue to finance tax cuts, and allows expedited environmental reviews exempt from court challenges.
- Rep. Ryan Zinke, a former Interior Secretary, opposed the land sale provision, calling it a 'red line,' and launched a bipartisan Public Lands Caucus to advocate for federal land protections.