On Wednesday, Senate Republicans defeated an attempt by their Democrat colleagues to undo President Donald Trump’s day-one national emergency declaration.
Members voted 52-47 along party lines. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who is recovering after falling and suffering a brain bleed after hitting the back of his head, missed the vote.
“For the last four years, American energy production was crippled by a woke, green agenda,” Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) said in a post to X on Wednesday as the effort met defeat.
He added: “President Trump’s energy emergency declaration takes the necessary steps to reverse Democrats’ Green New Deal and prioritize our domestic energy and natural resources.”
On the first day of his second term in the White House, Trump signed the national emergency declaration, which ordered agencies to boost energy domestic production and infrastructure.
“That’s a big one,” Trump said. “You know what that allows you to do? It means you can do whatever you have to do to get out of that problem. And we do have that kind of an emergency.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) led the effort to “terminate” the order via a joint resolution.
While claiming the order would kill jobs, raise costs on families, and weaken economic competitiveness, the Democrats made their resolution “privileged,” which forced a vote on it.
“Today’s vote goes to show, once again, that Senate Republicans refuse to do their jobs and put the American people above the wish lists of Trump’s donors and billionaire energy tycoons,” they said.
Kaine and Heinrich added: “To our colleagues: don’t say we didn’t warn you when your constituents’ energy bills go through the roof. To the American people: we’re going to keep fighting for you.”
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Mike Lee (R-UT) worked to rally his fellow Republicans, who have a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber, in opposition to the resolution.
He said: “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.”