WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today met with U.S. Representative Deb Haaland (D-NM-1), nominee to be Secretary of the Interior, and former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, nominee to be Secretary of Energy. Granholm will appear before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee tomorrow. Haaland’s nomination hearing has yet to be scheduled.
“Onshore and offshore oil and gas leasing are crucial to Louisiana’s energy workers, economy and coastal restoration efforts. President Biden’s plans to place a moratorium on oil and gas leasing will be devastating,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Energy will still be produced, but in countries with worse environmental standards, leading to worse global emissions. I made it clear this administration must be accountable to the workers and economy of our state.”
These meetings came after reports that “President Biden is planning on Wednesday to halt new oil and gas leasing on federal territory.”
Last week, the Biden administration announced they would revoke a key permit for the Keystone XL pipeline which was expected to employ more than 11,000 Americans in 2021, creating more than $1.6 billion in gross wages.
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