Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines, alongside a group of Republican colleagues, has introduced two legislative proposals aimed at bolstering American energy production and supporting rural communities. The first proposal, the "Supporting Made in America Energy Act," is designed to enhance oil and gas development by mandating four annual onshore lease sales in leading oil and gas producing states. It also calls for two annual offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and six over a decade in Alaska's Cook Inlet.

Daines expressed his motivation for the bills, stating, "Now that we have a President who supports our energy industry instead of pushing a radical environmental agenda, it’s time to get to work on real change to unleash American energy and ensure that we remain dominant on the world stage." He further emphasized the potential benefits for Montana's economy and job market.

The second piece of legislation, titled the "Restoring State Mineral Revenues Act," seeks to eliminate the 2 percent administrative fee on federal oil and gas royalty payments directed to local communities. This adjustment aims to establish an equitable distribution of revenues generated from federal land resources like oil, gas, coal, among others.

Several senators have joined Daines in backing these initiatives. For the Supporting Made in America Energy Act, supporters include Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.). Meanwhile, Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) are co-sponsors of the Restoring State Mineral Revenues Act.

Both pieces of legislation are positioned as efforts to reinforce U.S. energy independence while benefiting state economies reliant on resource development revenues.