Senators Introduce Bill to Promote Onshore Energy Development
ONSHORE Act eliminates duplicative regulations, streamlines the oil and gas permitting process, increases mineral revenue for states and creates jobs.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), along with Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Opportunities for the Nation and States to Harness Onshore Resources for Energy (ONSHORE) Act.
Permitting delays and duplicative regulations discourage oil and gas development on federal land and deprive states and local communities of much-needed jobs and revenues. The ONSHORE Act empowers states with the authority to manage oil and gas permitting and regulatory responsibilities on federal land within their borders. This will promote energy development by reducing regulatory costs and uncertainty.
“Punishing regulations and permitting delays have plagued the federal oil and gas permitting process for years,” said Barrasso. “Wyoming and other states have shown they are well-equipped to responsibly and effectively manage oil and gas development on federal land. The ONSHORE Act empowers them to do just that. Our bill also eliminates unnecessary regulations and increases mineral revenue for states. This will spur job creation and economic growth across the country by creating an environment where American energy can flourish.”
“Duplicative regulations on federal lands are especially costly for western states, where federal ownership is mixed among state and private lands,” said Hoeven. “The inefficiencies and delays at BLM have needlessly impacted the rights of private mineral owners and reduced revenue to the states and federal government. Our legislation recognizes that states like North Dakota have long had effective regulatory systems in place and should take the lead in managing oil and gas development within their borders. This will help unlock our nation’s energy potential, creating good jobs for our citizens while also ensuring good environmental stewardship.”
“Federal government delays and inefficiencies for oil and gas permitting have stifled energy development on federal lands, hampering economic growth across the country. States like Wyoming, with proven safety and environmental track records, can responsibly issue permits more efficiently and effectively,” said Enzi. “The ONSHORE Act reduces duplicative regulations, stops federal overreach onto private and state lands and empowers states to regulate activities like hydraulic fracturing. This bill will reduce uncertainty, create more jobs and help restore American energy dominance.”
“The federal government has prevented the American people from enjoying the full use of our nation’s bountiful resources for far too long,” said Lee. “The ONSHORE Act will make it easier for states to work with local communities and find the best way to protect the environment and promote economic growth.”
“I am happy to join my colleagues in introducing this much-needed legislation, which would responsibly increase the development of our natural resources, particularly in Utah and across the West,” said Hatch. “For years, I have advocated for states' ability to regulate unconventional oil and gas development, which is safer and more reliable than ever thanks to innovation in the private sector. Today is an important step forward in advancing a commonsense regulatory policy that strengthens our economy while advancing the goals of American energy security.”
Specifically, the ONSHORE Act will:
The ONSHORE Act also includes language from Enzi’s State Mineral Revenue Protection Act, cosponsored by Barrasso, which allows states to claim the full 50 percent of mineral royalties they are owed under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920.
Many states have established regulatory programs that have a proven record of efficiently and effectively managing oil and gas activities. For example, the Bureau of Land Management issued applications for permits to drill in an average of 257 days in 2016, whereas state agencies issued permits in an average of 30 days.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced H.R. 4239, the SECURE American Energy Act, which includes on onshore title similar to the Senate ONSHORE Act. H.R. 4239 passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on Nov. 8, 2017.
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Charter Families and Educators Celebrate School Choice at the Capitol
Hundreds of school choice supporters will rally for educational opportunity in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City- Students, parents, teachers, and school leaders from charter schools around the state will show support for school choice at a capitol rally timed to coincide with National School Choice Week.
The event, planned for January 25 at 11:00 a.m., will feature students from a variety of charter schools performing dance and musical pieces. More than 700 people are expected to attend the event at the Utah State Capitol.
The goal of the event is to share the enthusiasm and student success stories in the charter school movement. The celebration is timed to coincide with National School Choice Week (January 21-27, 2018), which will feature more than 32,000 events across the country.
“When parents are involved in their children's education, those same children are more likely to succeed in the classroom,” said Erik Roan, Director of Communications and Government Relations at Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS). “This parental involvement can, and should, extend to the very beginnings of their child's education in the form of school choice, allowing parents to provide their children with the best opportunities for success, regardless of income or location. UAPCS is proud to support school choice by throwing our annual Charter Day on the Hill, where our legislators can see the impact school choice has on our youth.”
The lead organization planning the event is Utah Association of Public Charter Schools.
Held every January, National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a positive spotlight on effective education options for every child. Through more than 32,000 independently planned events across the country, National School Choice Week raises public awareness of all types of educational choices available to children. These options include traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and homeschooling.
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With American consumers projected to exceed $1 trillion in outstanding credit-card debt in 2017 – the highest in U.S. history – the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018's Cities with the Highest & Lowest Credit-Card Debts.
WalletHub drew upon data from TransUnion, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Census Bureau and WalletHub’s proprietary credit-card payoff calculator to determine the cost and time required to pay off the median credit-card balances of more than 2,500 U.S. cities.
The following are some highlights from the report:
Cities with the Least Sustainable Credit-Card Debts
Cities with the Most Sustainable Credit-Card Debts
Magnolia, TX
Sunnyvale, CA
Dahlonega, GA
Cupertino, CA
Richmond, TX
Scarsdale, NY
Lake Placid, FL
Saratoga, CA
Canton, GA
Santa Clara, CA
Cumming, GA
Palo Alto, CA
Jacksonville, NC
Mountain View, CA
Ooltewah, TN
Los Altos, CA
Buford, GA
Fremont, CA
Green Cove Springs, FL
Foster City, CA
Kailua, HI
Bronxville, NY
Fairbanks, AK
Sun City Center, FL
Leesville, LA
Seal Beach, CA
Ringgold, GA
San Ramon, CA
Boerne, TX
Redmond, WA
Branson, MO
Quincy, MA
Brenham, TX
Princeton, NJ
Fallon, NV
Pleasanton, CA
Humble, TX
Monterey Park, CA
Key West, FL
Milpitas, CA
Key Stats
View the full report to see where your city ranks.
