Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.92 - Strategic Production Response and Implementation Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R. 92, the Strategic Production Response and Implementation Act, mandates the development of a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands. This increase would occur in conjunction with drawdowns from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), excluding severe energy supply interruptions. The plan aims to increase the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas production by a percentage equivalent to the SPR drawdown, capped at a 10% increase.

Expected Effects

The bill's primary effect would be to link SPR drawdowns to increased domestic oil and gas production on federal lands. This could lead to increased energy independence but also potentially greater environmental impact. The requirement for a compensatory production increase plan could slow down the process of utilizing the SPR in certain situations.

Potential Benefits

  • Increased domestic energy production.
  • Potential for job creation in the oil and gas sector.
  • Reduced reliance on foreign oil sources.
  • Potential revenue generation from increased leasing of federal lands.
  • May stabilize energy prices during drawdowns.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potential environmental damage from increased oil and gas production.
  • Possible conflicts with conservation efforts on federal lands.
  • May incentivize fossil fuel production over renewable energy development.
  • Potential delays in utilizing the SPR during emergencies due to the planning requirement.
  • The 10% cap might not be sufficient to fully offset large SPR drawdowns.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill appears to align with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) and provide for the common defense and general welfare (Preamble). The management of federal lands falls under the property clause (Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2), granting Congress the power to dispose of and regulate territory or other property belonging to the United States. However, potential environmental impacts could raise questions related to the government's responsibility to protect natural resources for future generations.

Impact Assessment: Things You Care About

This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).