Western governments have blindly given in to the hype of climate activists and in doing so, have put their people in danger. While the U.S. and Europe deplete energy resources and push for a transition to green energy, other major producers like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia are doubling down on traditional energy sources.

During his presidency, Donald Trump prioritized domestic energy production and worked to remove regulatory barriers that hindered energy infrastructure development. As a result, the U.S. saw a significant increase in energy production and reserves. For example, the U.S. became a net exporter of oil and natural gas for the first time in over fifty years.

But under the leadership of President Joe Biden, progressive climate alarmists have taken center stage, and U.S. energy production has been handicapped by new regulations — resulting in soaring inflation and a decline in America’s standing on the world stage. Republicans in Congress, though, are fighting back — offering a way out of this mess by introducing the “Lower Energy Costs Act,” which the Democratic-controlled Senate’s Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, has deemed the energy bill “dead on arrival” in the Senate.

An underreported solution—House Republican’s H.R.1

House Republicans have introduced their first bill of the new Congress — H.R. 1, or the “Lower Energy Costs Act.” The designation H.R.1, or ‘House Resolution 1,’ means it is the first bill in the legislative session and typically represents the party’s top legislative priorities.

H.R. 1 aims to secure our nation’s energy independence by re-investing in domestic energy production and reducing our reliance on foreign energy sources. The bill comes when the world grapples with rising energy prices, China’s increasing influence in the energy and financial market, and the destabilizing impact of the Russian-Ukraine war.

The bill is comprehensive — aiming to boost domestic coal, natural gas, and oil production while alleviating restrictions on pipeline and refinery production. It also seeks to increase the production of minerals critical to the production of technology like electric vehicles and digital devices, like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. Despite the potential benefits of this bill, President Biden has threatened to veto it if it passes through Congress.

Why Does It Matter?

Recall supply chain disruptions at the beginning of COVID—empty grocery store shelves, medicine shortages, and skyrocketing prices of basic household needs. This was all because America, after decades of shipping jobs overseas, no longer had the industrial capacity to produce these items itself. So, it had to rely on purchasing these items from other countries—and on complex supply chains that quickly broke down amid the crisis.

Now, imagine the same scenario but during an energy crisis. Prices would be the least of Americans’ worries — rolling blackouts, spoiled food, and hot summers with no air conditioning would be the norm. (Rolling blackouts already happen regularly in California, a state that struggles to keep up its energy supply.) As President Biden sells American energy to foreign adversaries, reduces the production capacity of oil and gas, and depletes America’s strategic oil reserves, this future only increases in probability.

Moreover, without high domestic energy production, the U.S. is not just at risk of supply disruptions and price spikes but also the whims of foreign countries who ignore climate alarmism — especially ones with major energy reserves Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Put simply, President Joe Biden’s policies are putting Americans at risk while strengthening our rivals: