IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 522 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the production 
of oil and natural gas is essential to the economy and well-being of 
the United States, and that addressing energy needs requires cooperation 
instead of coercion. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2019 
Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. 
JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. WATKINS, Mr. CRAWFORD, Mr. SCALISE, 
and Mr. MARSHALL) submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the production of oil and natural gas is essential to 
the economy and well-being of the United States, and 
that addressing energy needs requires cooperation in-
stead of coercion. 
Whereas public leaders have attempted to coerce damages 
from energy companies with frivolous lawsuits and inves-
tigations, including— 
(1) on July 24, 2013, the Southeast Louisiana 
Flood Protection Authority-East filed lawsuits against 
nearly 100 energy companies, alleging liability for flood-
ing in New Orleans; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:37 Jul 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR522.IH
HR522
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 522 IH 
(2) on April 7, 2016, Louisiana Governor John Bel 
Edwards and his administration joined in 39 lawsuits 
against energy companies, alleging liability for damages 
to the coast of Louisiana; 
(3) on September 21, 2016, Governor John Bel 
Edwards sent letters to 16 Louisiana parishes directing 
them to file similar lawsuits against energy companies for 
alleged damages; 4 additional parishes have since joined 
the lawsuits; and 
(4) on March 29, 2019, the city of New Orleans 
filed lawsuits against 11 energy companies, alleging li-
ability for damages to the coast of Louisiana; 
Whereas these actions are not in the spirit of good govern-
ance; 
Whereas these actions create more problems than they intend 
to fix; 
Whereas these unseemly tactics are nothing more than a cyn-
ical attempt to use the power of government to shake 
down energy companies in order to fund public works; 
Whereas these actions deter the safe development of the vast 
natural resources of the United States, and hinder eco-
nomic growth; 
Whereas the United States has thrived and tackled its great-
est challenges by fostering a cooperative spirit with busi-
ness and industry; 
Whereas Federal revenues generated from mineral production 
contribute to the conservation and preservation of na-
tional parks and other public lands; 
Whereas without the revenues generated by oil and gas pro-
duction, coastal restoration projects in Louisiana would 
not be possible; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:37 Jul 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR522.IH
HR522
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 522 IH 
Whereas the oil and natural gas industries are responsible for 
millions of American jobs and for adding trillions of dol-
lars to the economy; 
Whereas the production of oil and natural gas has provided 
affordable and reliable sources of energy to billions of 
people around the world; 
Whereas American innovation and ingenuity has made the 
United States the greatest energy producer in the world; 
and 
Whereas increased production of domestic energy sources is 
vital to American energy independence, national security, 
and the economy: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) the production of oil and natural gas is crit-
ical to the continued prosperity of the United States 
economy, its national security, and its people; 
(2) the Federal Government and public leaders 
throughout the United States should promote poli-
cies that encourage greater energy production and 
independence; and 
(3) public leaders should work in a spirit of 
good faith and cooperation with energy producers to 
address the energy needs and problems facing the 
United States, rather than in a spirit of coercion 
and division. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:37 Jul 26, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR522.IH
HR522
pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS