The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“OIL AND GAS LEASES MORATORIUM” mentioning Kevin Cramer was published in the Senate section on page S5926 on Aug. 5.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
OIL AND GAS LEASES MORATORIUM
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem filing a lawsuit against the Biden administration's continued cancelation of oil and gas leases on Federal lands and its impact on State and private mineral owners.
In addition to being a foolish idea, I believe President Biden's moratorium is illegal. It increases Federal and State budget shortfalls, hampers State and private mineral owners' rights, and makes the United States less energy independent and more reliant on foreign producers.
My State of North Dakota is uniquely harmed by this action, given what is commonly referred to as the split estate issue. For roughly 100 years, the Federal Government has retained Federal mineral rights on land near where State and/or private entities also hold surface and mineral rights. About 30 percent of the spacing units in North Dakota have interspersed federal mineral interests and therefore must go through the leasing process of the Bureau of Land Management--BLM--
regardless of its size.
Accordingly, since the moratorium, it is estimated our State has lost
$4.77 billion in tax revenues and $1.2 billion in private royalties. We are grateful the Louisiana Federal District Court Order agreed the Biden administration's actions are illegal, but unfortunately, we are being given no reason to think the near of this harmful policy is near.
On a recent call between the leadership of the BLM Montana/Dakotas office and constituents from the region, BLM officials stated that they are canceling quarterly lease sales at least through the end of calendar year 2021. Citing the administration's plans to appeal the district court ruling, State Director John Mehloff said, ``We'll probably, at earliest, would be able to hold an oil and gas lease sale late first quarter of 2022.''
That is disappointing, to say the least. Thankfully, North Dakota is taking action to protect our producers and America's energy security. I support the State's efforts in court and hope they are successful.
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