The Republican-controlled House passed the “Protecting American Energy Production Act” with a 226-188 vote to prevent future administrations from banning oil and gas drilling without Congress’s approval. The bill prohibits the president from imposing a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) unless authorized by Congress. It was introduced by Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, who expressed concerns over potential fracking bans during the Biden administration.

This legislation responds to former President Biden’s ban on drilling across 625 million acres of coastal and offshore waters, enacted just before he left office. Pfluger criticized Biden’s energy policies, claiming they harmed American energy production. The bill, if signed into law, would protect fracking from future bans. Additionally, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum initiated internal reviews of the Biden administration’s energy policies, aiming to reduce restrictions on energy development.