Peace Garden News

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) and U.S. Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) have reintroduced a Congressional Review Act resolution aimed at blocking the Biden administration's Natural Gas Tax. This tax was part of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022. The legislation is seen by its opponents as a measure that increases production costs and restricts the use of domestic energy resources.

"When it comes to bringing down prices and making America energy secure again, we have our work cut out for us," said Hoeven, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He emphasized efforts to reverse policies he believes are detrimental to energy producers and consumers.

Pfluger echoed these sentiments, criticizing what he described as former President Biden's "war on energy." Pfluger noted that the tax has negatively impacted technological innovation and increased both costs and emissions. "With President Trump back in office, it is time to restore American energy dominance," he stated.

Hoeven and Pfluger had introduced a similar resolution in the previous Congress. That resolution was part of "Hoeven’s broader efforts to rescind the wide array of costly taxes and regulations imposed by President Biden, which have resulted in increased costs for consumers and hampered domestic U.S. energy production," said a press release from Hoeven's office.

“American households and businesses depend every day on access to affordable and reliable energy,” said Hoeven in Dec. 2024. “The best way to bring down prices for U.S. consumers is to increase supply."

"That’s why we’re working to rescind policies like the Natural Gas Tax, among the many other costly and burdensome taxes and regulations imposed under the Biden administration," said Hoeven. "Doing so will help unleash our domestic energy production and make our nation energy dominant once again.”

The bill forms part of a broader strategy by Hoeven in collaboration with the new Congress and Trump administration. Their objectives include improving access to taxpayer-owned energy resources, streamlining approval processes for development, reducing production costs, combating inflation, and lowering consumer prices.

The proposal has garnered support from several senators including Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Lankford (R-Okla.), among others. The full text of this legislative effort is available for public review.