Senate Democrats on Wednesday will attempt to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to combat the energy affordability crisis in the United States by forcing a vote on a resolution that, if it were to become law, would revoke his declaration of an energy emergency.
The joint resolution will be forced to a roll-call vote by Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.
Given the Republican majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, however, it is unlikely that the measure will become law. Instead, members of Congress effectively will only be expending time to posture on the issue.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told his colleagues on the Senate floor that the legislative proposal is misguided because the United States faces a looming energy crisis.
“Thanks in substantial part to a movement to shut down fossil-fuel-fired power plants before reliable sources of clean energy are available to replace them, America is running out of power even as we face huge new power demands,” Thune said.
“If we don’t take action, we are going to be facing some very serious problems in the very near future, so I’m grateful to have a president who recognizes and acknowledges the energy emergency facing our nation. I look forward to working with him to unleash American energy production and achieve a secure, affordable, and reliable energy future,” the Senate majority leader added.
During his first week in office, Trump signed an executive order attempting to address the soaring energy prices that occurred during the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden. During Biden’s tenure, gasoline prices increased by 30.5% and electricity prices rose by 28.55%. Natural gas prices increased by 33.30%. Such price increases were hardly surprising, given Biden’s campaign promise to end fossil fuel.
“I want you to look at my eyes. I guarantee you. I guarantee you. We’re going to end fossil fuel,” then-candidate Biden told an environmental activist on Sept. 6, 2019.
Trump has sought to spur the economy through making energy prices more affordable. On his first day back in office, Jan. 20, Trump’s energy emergency executive order directed the opening up of energy production, including on federal lands. “[T]o facilitate the Nation’s energy supply, agencies shall identify and use all relevant lawful emergency and other authorities available to them to expedite the completion of all authorized” energy infrastructure, the order stated.
Trump also signed an executive order to explore drilling on the outer continental shelf, and he took the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement. The president also sought to ameliorate price increases caused by burdensome climate regulations through another executive action.
Trump’s energy actions are in stark contrast to Democratic attempts to hinder energy production. As president, Biden attempted to limit future offshore drilling on more than 625 million acres. At the more local level, Democratic governors of several states have acted to limit natural gas drilling in pro-drilling regions, such as northeast Pennsylvania.
Reacting to the Senate Democrats’ measure, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who chairs the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources said, “Luckily, President Trump is committed to unleashing American energy and rescuing the country from the energy crisis that they have perpetuated.
“Senate Republicans won’t let Democrats delay and obstruct any longer and will ensure the president has the tools necessary to deliver the results the American people expect,” Lee said.