Steve Scalise looks to rally support behind sweeping energy cost reduction bill

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) is urging bipartisan support for the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1). The bill aims to reduce energy costs, limit executive authority, reform the permitting process for energy production, roll back parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, and prohibit bans on fracking, which proponents argue will boost domestic energy production.

Despite Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) declaring the bill dead in the Democratic-controlled upper chamber, Scalise believes the legislation is in the country’s best interest and worth supporting. He believes the high cost of energy has become a critical issue that needs to be addressed by reducing energy costs.

The Lower Energy Costs Act seeks to put more money back into the pockets of hard-working families. Outside conservative groups, such as the American Action Network, are advocating heavily for the measure, with a $1.5 million ad campaign running in 12 swing districts held by Democrats. Plus, nearly every Republican has been talking about closing down American energy for years, which makes no sense when the U.S. knows how to create it better than anybody else in the world.

Scalise called out President Biden for trying a war on American fossil fuels, costing families billions of dollars in additional energy taxes. He hopes the President changes his mind about the bill, just as he did about the D.C. crime bill. Scalise believes the Lower Energy Costs Act will eliminate dependence on China for critical minerals, such as computer chips and electric car batteries, repeal the natural gas tax, and more.

While it’s uncertain whether the Lower Energy Costs Act will pass the Senate, Scalise hopes that Democrats will support the bill as they have heard from families who are struggling to pay high energy costs. Scalise also remarked that Speaker McCarthy was very involved in this bill and considers it to be one of the critical parts of the Republicans’ “Commitment to America.”