Speaker McCarthy Announces H.R. 1: Lower Energy
Costs Act

Today, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA-20) announced H.R. 1 for the 118th Congress, the Lower Energy Costs Act. This legislation focuses on two main priorities: increasing the production and export of American energy and reducing the regulatory burdens that make it harder to build American infrastructure and grow our economy. This legislation is being introduced by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01).

Historically, H.R. 1 through H.R. 10 have signaled a Speaker’s legislative priorities to improve the lives of the American people, making the Lower Energy Costs Act all the more significant.

Speaker McCarthy released the following statement on H.R. 1:

“The Biden administration has kneecapped American energy production, and endlessly delayed critical infrastructure projects. Democrats’ misguided policies increased costs for every American and jeopardized our national security – and they’ve made the rest of the world more reliant on dirtier energy from Russia and China.

“To lower costs for Americans and grow our economy, we need to get the federal government out of the way. The Lower Energy Costs Act will fast-track American energy production, and includes comprehensive permitting reforms that will speed construction for everything from pipelines to transmission to water infrastructure. And it ensures that the critical minerals needed for advanced technologies come from America – not China.

“This bill will be critical to growing our economy, lifting communities out of energy poverty, and ensuring American leadership long into the future.”

Background:

H.R. 1 will include legislation led by 26 individual Members and produced by the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Natural Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure.

Policies that will be included in the energy package can be broken down into several broad categories:

• Increasing American Energy Production
• Increasing the Production and Processing of Critical Minerals
• Streamlining Energy Infrastructure and Exports
• Broad Permitting Reform
• Government Accountability