House of Representatives Progressive Democrats is reportedly planning to publicly urge President Joe Biden to ban oil drilling on federal lands despite a war in Ukraine and amidst record gas prices that have disrupted oil markets.
Democrats are also calling on the president to end fossil fuel subsidies.
According to reports, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is planning to demand that the president use his executive powers to ban drilling on federal lands and declare climate change an emergency.
According to a tweet by Joshua Siegel, Politico reporter, “Progressive Caucus member @JaredHuffman told me calling on Biden to declare a climate emergency is one of the ‘centerpiece’ actions to headline their EO plan. A draft of the plan I also saw calls for Biden to ban oil/gas drilling on public lands and end fossil fuel subsidies.”
According to Siegel, House Democrats will also demand that Biden manufacture more heat pumps to “ease the strain in oil and gas markets that Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused.”
Also according to the House Progressives’ plan, some heat pumps would be donated to Europe.
The move brought criticism on social media, with many individuals pointing out that the price of gas is surging at the pump and prompting Republicans to increasingly demand drilling to ease the pain at the pump, not less.
GOP leaders call for more oil
“Dems want $10 gas,” tweeted Republican Senator Ted Cruz.
“The Democrats need to wake up. We must unleash American energy,” replied Republican Senator Steve Daines via Twitter.
“And Democrats wonder why people blame them for high gas prices,” tweeted the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“We need to focus on building critical infrastructure and increasing domestic production, not jeopardizing North American energy security,” tweeted CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers Jay Timmons.
“Manufacturers oppose this attempt to potentially further disrupt domestic energy production and drive-up prices.”
The use of “climate emergency” has also raised constitutional concerns; Simultaneously, the nation eases out of emergency Covid restrictions put in place two years ago by local authorities and governors, which shuttered businesses and destroyed millions of jobs across the U.S.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration has faced intense criticism for refusing to increase oil production in the United States as gas prices have skyrocketed roughly $1.50 per gallon in a gas crisis that Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has exacerbated.
In response to a reporter’s question, President Biden said, “It’s going to go up. Can’t do much right now. Russia is responsible.”
