WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) along with Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Boozman (R-AR), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and John Hoeven (R-ND) took to the Senate floor to blast the Biden administration’s harmful energy policies. The senators highlighted how the policies are leading to higher energy costs for Americans all across the country.

Barrasso is ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR).

What They Are Saying about Democrats’ Damaging Energy Policies:

“President Biden’s radical anti-American energy agenda is hurting our economy, and people in every state of the union are paying the price and feeling the pain today. They’re feeling it with higher energy bills. Any time they pay an energy bill, they are paying more. So what do the Democrats want to do about this? They want to make it worse. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are pushing a $3.5 trillion reckless tax and spending spree. So what’s in this bill? It would effectively kill coal, oil, and natural gas permitting on federal lands. It would replicate California’s unreliable electric grid on a national scale. The result would be what they’ve see in California – rolling blackouts, service that is less reliable, and costs that are even higher. The Democrat bill would impose punishing new taxes on natural gas producers. These fees would be passed along to consumers in their energy bills,” said Barrasso.

“This week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration—a non-partisan governmental group—forecasted that the cost of natural gas bills will go up 30% this winter. We’re getting ready to get into the cold winter season. That means American households will spend an average of $746 on gas heating in the months October through March — 30% more than last year… Natural gas is the primary heating fuel for 48% of American homes—nearly half the country—this has huge implications for our families. Just think of retirees in West Virginia on a fixed income. That 30% increase is huge and unmanageable! People already struggle to pay their energy bills in normal times. But, with this increase, difficult decisions will have to be made in many households. Think of a family of four just trying to get through the school year and have just enough to buy necessities for their children. And now their heating bill is 30% higher. That’s a big hit,” said Capito.

“Under President Biden’s new policies, instead of reducing the burden on hardworking Arkansans, President Biden has made it clear that his agenda trumps the need of American families and is doubling down with this new reckless energy destroying spending bill that will only increase these costs. This far left Democrat wish list makes undeliverable promises, proposes to dramatically drive up costs for every American. It would eliminate thousands of jobs in the energy sector and would accelerate our already rapid inflation,” said Boozman.

“A number of us are down on the Senate floor here, talking about the disastrous Biden administration policies that from day one have sought to increase energy prices and put American workers out of work. They’re shutting down the production of American energy all over the country. They’re going after pipelines and not allowing those to be built,” said Sullivan.

“This administration’s policies are harming America’s energy producers and leading to skyrocketing energy prices. Americans are paying more for energy, whether it’s at the gas pump or their monthly utility bills. This week, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in my home state of North Dakota is $3.19. That’s up from $2.27 in January. That’s an increase of almost a dollar – about a 50 percent increase. Every consumer pays that when they pull up to the pump. Of course that hits low income people disproportionately. North Dakotans are also facing higher home heating costs for this winter with the price of natural gas almost tripled,” said Hoeven.

###