Republicans in the House just sent a loud and clear message: No more games with America’s energy independence. On Friday, they passed the Protecting American Energy Production Act, a straightforward, commonsense bill that says future presidents cannot unilaterally ban oil and gas drilling—especially hydraulic fracturing—without congressional approval. Sounds reasonable, right? Well, 118 Democrats somehow managed to vote against it.
Now, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. The Biden administration, from day one, made it a priority to wage war on American energy. Under the guise of “saving the planet,” they threw down-regulation after regulation, crippling the oil and gas industry, jacking up prices, and making the U.S. more dependent on foreign adversaries for energy. One of Biden’s final acts as president was banning future drilling on a staggering 625 million acres of coastal and offshore waters—just another parting gift to radical environmentalists.
Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, the Republican who spearheaded this bill, had enough. He made it clear that the legislation is designed to stop this type of reckless executive overreach from happening again. “When President Biden took office, his administration took a ‘whole of government’ approach to wage war on American energy production, pandering to woke environmental extremists and crippling this thriving industry,” Pfluger said. And he’s absolutely right.
Let’s not forget the consequences of Biden’s anti-energy agenda. Gas prices shot up. Inflation soared. Americans struggled to afford basic necessities, all while the administration pretended like printing more money and forcing EVs down everyone’s throats would magically fix things. Meanwhile, U.S. adversaries like China, Russia, and even Venezuela had no problem ramping up their own fossil fuel production—because they know energy dominance means power.
President Trump, on the other hand, has been clear from the start: America first means energy first. His “drill, baby, drill” approach led to historic energy independence, lower costs for consumers, and a booming economy. And now, with Trump set to return to the White House, Congress is laying the groundwork to make sure no future administration can go full Biden and kneecap the energy industry again.
And it’s not just Congress. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum is already rolling back Biden-era policies that strangled domestic energy production. On Monday, he dismantled coercive climate policies and launched investigations into agency actions that “burden” energy development. Translation? The government is getting out of the way, and the oil and gas industry can finally breathe again.
Hydraulic fracturing is critical—it powers America, lowers costs, creates jobs, and strengthens our economy.
That’s why I’m glad @RepPfluger‘s Protecting American Energy Production Act passed the House—to keep fracking secure, no matter who’s in the White House. pic.twitter.com/rab9RruvG6
— Randy Weber (@TXRandy14) February 7, 2025
Now, of course, the usual suspects on the left are foaming at the mouth over this. They claim stopping presidents from banning fracking is an assault on “climate justice” or whatever buzzword they’re using this week. But here’s the reality: The U.S. has some of the cleanest and most efficient energy production in the world. If we don’t produce it here, the demand doesn’t just disappear—it shifts to places like China, where environmental standards are practically nonexistent.
Energy independence isn’t just an economic issue; it’s a national security issue. And thanks to House Republicans, we’re one step closer to making sure no future president can unilaterally cripple American energy again. Now, all that’s left is to get this bill signed into law—and with Trump back in charge, that day is coming soon.
