House GOP Spearheads Bill to Expand Domestic Drilling

Today, the House passed H.R. 4899, The Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America that Works Act by a vote of 229-185. If enacted the bill would expedite oil and gas leasing on federal lands, open new offshore drilling areas and expand drilling in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.

Friends of the Earth Climate and energy campaigner Lukas Ross issued the following statement in response:

This bill is everything Big Oil wants for Christmas. Reviving “Drill Baby Drill” can’t magically lower prices of a global commodity, and any economic gains pale in comparison to the long-term damage climate change threatens to inflict on our economy. Bringing about additional droughts, wildfires and other extreme weather events is no way to save money. Leaving fossil fuels in the ground is the only course of action that respects the seriousness of the climate crisis.