The Republican-controlled House passed the “Protecting American Energy Production Act” in a 226-188 vote, aiming to prevent future presidents from banning oil and gas drilling without congressional approval. Introduced by Rep, August Pfluger of Texas, the bill specifically prohibits the president from imposing a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) without authorization from Congress.
Republican Texas Rep. August Pfluger’s bill that would prohibit the president from banning fracking without the consent of Congress passed the House Friday morning 226 to 188.
Pfluger’s bill, known as the Protecting American Energy Production Act, would prohibit a federal moratorium on the use of fracking. Just 16 Democrats voted in favor of his legislation to protect fracking.The Texas Republican said the House passing his bill is “a necessary first step” in reversing the former Biden administration’s efforts to curb fossil fuel production, in an exclusive statement given to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“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 told the DCNF. “My legislation that passed today is a necessary first step in reversing Biden’s war on energy by preventing the federal government from banning the use of hydraulic fracturing. Fracking is a safe, clean, and effective way to produce affordable energy and strengthen our national security.”
“This bill advances President [Donald] Trump’s pro-energy agenda to restore America’s position as the world’s top oil and gas producer,” Pfluger continued. “As the representative of the most prolific oil and gas producing region in the country, this bill is critical to protect regions like the Permian Basin.”
Pfluger’s legislation faces uncertain prospects in the Senate. Seven Democratic lawmakers will have to join their Republican colleagues to overcome the upper chamber’s 60-vote threshold.
The Texas Republican introduced his pro-fracking bill on the first day of the 119th Congress, the DCNF was first to report.
Similar legislation sponsored by former South Carolina Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan passed the House in March 2024, but died in the Senate after then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declined to formally take up the bill.
Fracking was a recurring issue in the 2024 presidential race with former Vice President Kamala Harris notably flip-flopping on whether she supported the practice if elected to serve as president.
Trump has taken an array of executive actions to unleash energy production since taking the Oval Office, including lifting the Biden administration’s freeze on certain liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hubs and promoting energy production in Alaska.
Pfluger represents a Texas district in the Permian Basin — the highest producing oil and gas field in the United States — and is chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee.