COLIN allred: PUTTING EXTREME ENVIROnMENTAL POLITICS AHEAD OF TEXAS JOBS & LOWER ENERGY COSTS

• Allred voted yes on Kathy Castor’s HR 9, the Climate Action Now Act, which tried to prevent President Trump from withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and require him to submit a plan to Congress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent by 2025.
• Allred voted yes on Adriano Espaillat’s amendment to HR 9, the Climate Action Now Act, emphasizing the importance of “climate justice” and “environmental justice,” which includes respecting the rights of migrants and gender equity. According to former UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson, climate justice means providing financial support to climate-affected areas and allowing “climate refugees” to resettle in western countries.
• Allred agreed with an interviewer about the need to transform the Texas economy to address climate change, even if it “may be hard” for the oil and gas industry. Video (11:42 – 12:35)

In April 2023, Rep. Colin Allred voted against H.R. 1¹ – the Lower Energy Costs Act. This was a bipartisan bill that was even supported by two Texas Democrats in congress.
The Lower Energy Costs Act was a sweeping energy bill aimed at easing restrictions on fuel production, reversing over-bearing environmental measures in the Inflation Reduction Act, and increasing the production of critical materials. ²

This bill provides for the exploration, development, importation, and exportation of energy resources (e.g., oil, gas, and minerals). For example, it sets forth provisions to (1) expedite energy projects, (2) eliminate or reduce certain fees related to the development of federal energy resources, and (3) eliminate certain funds that provide incentives to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases.

The bill expedites the development, importation, and exportation of energy resources, including by:

• waiving environmental review requirements and other specified requirements under certain environmental laws,
• eliminating certain restrictions on the import and export of oil and natural gas,
• prohibiting the President from declaring a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing (a type of process used to extract underground energy resources),
• directing the Department of the Interior to conduct sales for the leasing of oil and gas resources on federal lands and waters as specified by the bill, and
• limiting the authority of the President and executive agencies to restrict or delay the development of energy on federal land.

In addition, the bill reduces royalties for oil and gas development on federal land and eliminates charges for methane emissions.

It also eliminates a variety of funds, such as funds for energy efficiency improvements in buildings as well as the greenhouse gas reduction fund.

H.R. 1 passed the House 225-204 with two Texas House Democrats (Cuellar and Gonzalez) joining Republicans in support.

Gonzalez told the Texas Tribune:³

“In order to fully realize the benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, remain competitive on the world stage, and ensure the American people have access to safer roads and bridges and reliable and affordable energy, we must improve federal environmental review and permitting processes,” Gonzalez said in a statement to the Tribune. “While this package is far from perfect, it is a step forward. I am hopeful that we can work in a bipartisan and bicameral way to make progress on this issue and deliver for our constituents.”