Expressing that the House of Representatives opposes punitive natural gas taxes on United States businesses, families, and workers.

Whereas House and Senate Democrats have introduced numerous proposals that implement a punitive fee on methane emissions from oil and gas operations that is tantamount to a tax on natural gas; Whereas a proposed natural gas tax would increase the average United States family’s energy bill by 17 percent; Whereas a proposed natural gas tax would reduce the United States gross domestic product by $9,000,000,000 and result in 90,000 lost jobs; Whereas raising consumers’ energy bills would violate President Biden’s pledge to not raise taxes on those making less than $400,000 annually; Whereas a natural gas tax will increase the costs of thousands of manufactured products, including personal protective equipment and critical medicines; Whereas a natural gas tax will disproportionally harm low-income families; Whereas a natural gas tax on energy producers will negatively impact United States farmers and ranchers by increasing the costs of supplies needed for agricultural production; Whereas a natural gas tax on United States agriculture will inhibit domestic food production, significantly raise costs for consumers, and make United States farmers less competitive globally; Whereas farm and ranch production systems play a key role in strengthening United States national security and food security; Whereas Europe and Asia are experiencing an energy crisis due to a shortage of natural gas, resulting in record-high energy prices and further reliance on Russian natural gas and coal; Whereas handicapping United States domestic energy production through burdensome taxes would empower foreign adversaries and weaken United States national security; Whereas a nation that can feed and power itself is inherently safer and more secure than one that cannot; Whereas energy security is national security; Whereas natural gas is fundamental to allowing the United States to lead the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions; Whereas the United States has established a long-term supply of natural gas to affordably and reliably power our economy for decades to come; Whereas United States natural gas exports are increasingly critical to establishing clean, affordable power and raising prosperity elsewhere around the world, and reducing global greenhouse gas emissions; Whereas, between 2005 and 2019, carbon dioxide emissions from the United States power sector declined by 28 percent, with the generation of power from natural gas accounting for more than half of such decline; Whereas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, methane emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems declined by 31,900,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from 1990 to 2017, and over the same period, natural gas production increased by 51 percent, while oil production increased by 80 percent; Whereas Congress should promote policies that allow for increased domestic energy production while simultaneously encouraging domestic producers to continue to implement innovative solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and Whereas the United States is the leader in innovation and conservation and will continue to lower emissions, protect the natural environment, and deliver affordable, reliable energy to United States families: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives opposes punitive natural gas taxes on United States businesses, families, and workers.

Summary: This resolution expresses the opposition of the House of Representatives to punitive natural gas taxes on U.S. businesses, families, and workers.