Congressman Nick Langworthy Votes to Pass H.R. 1, The Lower Energy Costs Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy voted in support of H.R. 1 – the Lower Energy Costs Act, a bill he also proudly co-sponsored. This bill is marquee legislation for House Majority Republicans delivering on a key component of the Commitment to America agenda. 

The comprehensive legislation, constructed within three House Committees – Energy & Commerce, Transportation & Infrastructure, and Natural Resources is comprised of 25 different bills designed to lower energy costs and make America’s energy supply reliable and secure. 

The framework of this of legislation includes:

• Increasing domestic energy production; 
• Reforming the permitting process for all industries; 
• Reversing anti-energy policies advanced by the Biden Administration; 
• Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports, and 
• Boosting the production and processing of critical minerals.

“The skyrocketing energy costs that Americans and businesses have been forced to shoulder are the direct result of poor policy decisions and harmful regulations coming out of the White House,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy. “Today’s passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act says to the American people that we understand the pain you’re feeling and this is the comprehensive solution to getting affordable energy production back on track. I promised I would make lowering energy costs a top priority and I’m proud to co-sponsor and vote for this signature bipartisan legislation that does just that. Now it’s time for the President and the Senate to come to the table and get this done for the American people.”

Background:

• Red tape has rooted itself into our permitting process, delaying critical projects.
  • The current process is filled with repetitive, duplicative assessments and prolonged processing which makes it difficult for developers to plan and build projects efficiently.
• The National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA, remains a significant barrier for transportation, infrastructure, energy development, transmission lines, wildfire prevention and drought resilience projects. 
  • H.R. 1 will set deadlines for completion of NEPA reviews at one year for environmental assessments and two years for environmental impact statements. 
• Under H.R. 1, we will see an improvement in the water quality certification process under the Clean Water Act. 
  • Activist bureaucrats have weaponized Section 401 in the Clean Water Act.
    • Section 401 allows states to issue water quality certifications for federal permits or licenses for activities that may result in any discharge into our waters. 
  • New York is a known perpetrator of abusing Section 401 for reasons outside of the scope of protecting water quality to stifle energy projects. 
• On the day Biden was sworn into office, the average price for a gallon of gas nationwide was $2.39.
• Biden’s war on American energy resulted in gas prices reaching a historic high of over $5 in June 2022. 
• According to the Energy Assistance Directors Association, households are expected to pay the highest energy costs in 15 years this winner. 
• Natural gas prices are expected to rise as much as 25% since last winter.
  • About 47% of households use natural gas to heat their homes.
• Home heating oil prices are expected to rise as much as 45% since last winter.
  • Over 80% of home heating oil use is in the Northeast

Congressman Nick Langworthy represents the 23rd Congressional District of New York which includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties and parts of Erie County. Visit langworthy.house.gov.

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