Peace Garden News

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota addressed the House Floor, advocating for H.J. Res. 35, a resolution she co-sponsored. This resolution aims to counteract the Biden administration's methane tax, which Fedorchak argues negatively impacts North Dakota's energy producers and families reliant on affordable energy.

Fedorchak emphasized her commitment to protecting local energy interests by highlighting her initial congressional actions: "For my first action as a member of Congress, I wrote to President Trump and Secretary Burgum, urging them to repeal 20 unnecessary and burdensome rules that threaten affordable, reliable energy—including this rule."

She criticized the methane tax as an assault on North Dakota's energy sector and broader economic life: "The Biden administration's methane tax is a real attack on North Dakota's energy sector, and it's really a tax on every aspect of our lives." She added that it was the primary concern among state energy stakeholders.

According to Fedorchak, the federal mandate disproportionately affects small and mid-sized independent producers who supply most of America's natural gas. She stated, "This heavy-handed federal mandate punishes small and mid-sized, independent producers who are responsible for 90% of America's natural gas."

Fedorchak argued that North Dakota exemplifies how innovation can lead to both economic strength and environmental responsibility: "North Dakota leads the way in responsible energy production—not because of government mandates, but because of innovation and technology."

She expressed concerns about national security implications if the tax continues: "This natural gas tax threatens American energy security, and we will be forced to rely on adversaries to meet our energy needs—countries that do not have strong labor or environmental laws."

In conclusion, Fedorchak advocated for policies promoting U.S. energy production without additional taxes or disincentives: "We should be unleashing US energy production, not taxing it, not it more expensive, and creating disincentives to production."