Why the Gulf of Mexico is Vital for U.S. Energy Security

As geopolitical tensions rise and energy prices continue to climb higher, both in the U.S. and across Europe, the world is looking to America for energy leadership and stability. Instead, this administration continues to restrict access to America’s oil and natural gas resources, and legal and regulatory uncertainty is hindering increased energy production right here at home.

Just look at the current situation in Europe. It is an example of what can happen when nations depend on energy production from foreign sources that have agendas of their own.

However, unlike Europe, the U.S. has robust domestic production. Especially as concerned American families watch energy prices rise, they look to our nation’s leaders for help ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy. These same leaders have the power to support U.S. production and energy infrastructure – for example – which would send a clear message that America is open for energy investment.

So, how does this relate to energy operations in the Gulf of Mexico?

• The next 5-year offshore leasing program, which must be in place by July 1, 2022, is well behind schedule and will not be finalized by the time the current one expires. Without a new 5-year program, no federal offshore lease sales can be held.

• Energy operations in the Gulf of Mexico impacts new and existing jobs. In 2021, oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico supported more than 325,000 American jobs.

• Progress towards carbon goals. U.S. oil and natural gas produced in the Gulf of Mexico is among the lowest carbon intensive barrels produced in the world, according to a U.S. Department of the Interior analysis that shows emissions from international substitutions are more carbon intensive.

Simply put: America needs an energy policy reset in order to continue offshore leasing and production, support American jobs, and maintain our energy security.

Will you stand with us for American-made energy? Sign up below to continue to receive information and learn how you can get involved.

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Read more: Why the Gulf of Mexico is Vital for U.S. Energy Security

Is President Biden to Blame for High Gas Prices in Louisiana?

The U.S. Energy Information Agency tracks prices and says back in 1994, we were paying $1.00 a gallon for gas. It went over $2 a gallon back in May of 2004. Prices climbed just above $3 a gallon in July of 2006. In July of 2008, prices went up about $4 a gallon for the first time in history. Prices then dropped to $1.84 in 2009.

Read More: Is President Biden to Blame for High Gas Prices in Louisiana??

AG Jeff Landry Praises Parents Who Filed Legal Challenge to Draconian Edicts

“Parents and guardians – not government bureaucrats – should make medical decisions for their children. And thanks to the legal challenge by families who had enough of the madness in the Crescent City, today is finally the end to the attacks on personal freedom in New Orleans. I again applaud the parents in the case and look forward to continue fighting with them to ensure the government at any level does not force medical procedures on citizens.”

Read more: New Orleans Mayor Finally Makes It Official: Mandates Over In Crescent City

HARRIS: Stuck in the Passage of Time

KAMALA HARRIS: "The significance of the passage of time, right? The significance of the passage of time. So when you think about it, there is great significance to the passage of time...there is such great significance to the passage of time." pic.twitter.com/jUsnyNiSpB

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 21, 2022

LAGOP: Critical Race Theory Workshop: Join Us in Alexandria!

The following was in an email to supporters of the Louisiana Republican Party concerning Critical Race Theory in Louisiana:

Patriots,

We are hosting our next Critical Race Theory workshop in Alexandria on April 12, 2022 at 6:00 pm at the historic Hotel Bentley.

We have hosted workshops in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Covington, and we need to keep up the momentum!

Click Here to RSVP!

We ask all concerned parents, activists and citizens in the Alexandria area to join us and help eliminate this Marxist philosophy from our classrooms. The best way to do this is by attacking it head on and supporting vetted candidates running for your local School Board.

Join us for our next CRT workshop at the Hotel Bentley, 200 DeSoto St, Alexandria, LA 71301.

To RSVP to the Alexandria CRT Workshop, visit 
https://www.lagop.com/alexandria-crt-workshop.

Video of a Line of Tesla Vehicles Waiting to Be Charged in Louisiana

Curious, I pulled over and asked the guy how long it took to charge- he said normally 30 min but these stations are running slow due to demand so it’s over an hour per car. Take a look at this line…. Each car is over an hour to charge. Hope those people have food and clothes - they may not make dinner.

Louisiana AG on What to Do to Lower Gas Prices

Photo source: KPEL

When you put this bit in the ground here in America, you reduce the cost of energy, you make us more secure, you build a bigger, stronger, better middle class, and you take the burden off of the poor. So, why don't you help us lower the gasoline prices and utilities by allowing Americans and Louisianians to use this tool more often.

Read More: AG Jeff Landry Points Out the One Item That Will Lower Gas Prices|

These 6 Republicans Voted Against Ousting Fauci

Note that one of these that voted against this bill is our own “Senator” Bill Cassidy of Louisiana:

Republican Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Jerry Moran of Kansas each voted against the amendment.

Read more: These 6 Republicans Voted Against Ousting Fauci

Louisiana Right to Life Tracking 11 Pro-Life Bills as 2022 Legislative Session Begins

The 2022 Louisiana Legislative Session begins March 14 and ends June 6.  Louisiana Right to Life will be at the Capitol throughout the session to protect life, promote adoption, and fight against anything that destroys human life! Without question, our legislative activity has been a hallmark of our organization since 1970, and we are proud to represent babies, mothers, and you as we advocate. Please pray for the success of our efforts!

Our first priority this session is ensuring Louisiana law is ready for Roe v. Wade to be overturned if done through Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health allowing us to protect all babies. We are also supporting the Louisiana Heartbeat Act that mirrors the Texas law that is saving babies right now and stopping the online mail-order sale of chemical abortion pills through our new “Stopping Illegal Sale of Chemical Abortion Act” authored by Senator Sharon Hewitt (R-Slidell).  We also have legislation to safeguard a patient’s right to obtain life-sustaining care and legislation to promote transparency in vaccines that are produced with abortion-derived cells.

Review below many of the current bills Louisiana Right to Life is tracking.

Read more: 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Louisiana AG Jeff Landry Slams Biden Over Higher Energy Prices

HIGGINS: FIGHTING FOR AMERICAN ENERGY PRODUCTION

In an email sent to constituents today, Congressman Clay Higgins had the following to say regarding rising oil prices and need for domestic oil production.

Domestic energy costs have been steadily increasing since Biden took office in January 2021. This is a direct result of anti-American energy policies coming from the Biden White House. Rising energy and fuel costs are hurting American families. I and many of my colleagues on the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) have called on President Biden to end his war on America's oil and gas industry. We outlined a number of necessary actions including: approving the permit for Keystone XL, lifting the leasing moratorium on federal lands and waters, fast-tracking new LNG permits, and ending the regulatory assault on domestic oil and gas production. Read our letter here.

I also fully support an import ban on Russian energy products. Every purchase of Russian energy product provides financial support for Putin's barbaric war on Ukraine. The U.S. House of Representatives considered legislation this week on the issue. However, it was far too weak. The bill would allow Russian oil and gas imports to continue for another 45 days, and it doesn't include any provisions to support American energy production. We need swift, immediate action to hold Russia accountable and reestablish American energy independence. Read more about the vote here.

Kennedy pushes for Louisiana disaster aid, opposes government spending bill

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) announced his opposition to the government funding bill, which totals $1.5 trillion but provides no disaster relief to Louisiana. Kennedy introduced an amendment to provide $2.5 billion in disaster aid to Louisiana, but the Senate blocked the amendment.

“In 2020, Hurricane Laura hit Louisiana. Then Hurricane Marco hit us. Then Hurricane Delta hit us. Then Hurricane Zeta. Then Hurricane Ida, all in a period of two years. Those storms caused $150 billion in damage. My amendment, and Sen. Cassidy’s amendment, would appropriate $2.5 billion in disaster aid to Louisiana. That would include $600 million for housing aid for Hurricanes Laura and Delta, $1.4 billion in housing aid for Hurricane Ida. The amendment would also provide for $500 million in funding to rebuild Louisiana ports.

“I’m mindful of the fact, Madame President, that we should make sure this aid is paid for. I would remind everyone that, through the heroic efforts of Sen. Schatz and Sen. Cantwell, in which I played a small part, that we forced our FCC not to give away the C-Band to our telecommunications industry, and instead auctioned it out, in which case it brought in $81 billion. And I think we can spare a little bit of that for people who lost their homes and businesses through no fault of their own,” said Kennedy.

The funding bill’s misguided provisions and spending include, but are not limited to:

• $286 million for Planned Parenthood and up to $200 million to promote abortions abroad.

• $3.2 billion in subsidies for green energy and $78.3 million for green initiatives at the Department of Agriculture.

• $172 million for disaster relief for other countries.

• $9.5 million to support “diversity, equity and inclusion” at the United States Agency for International Development and $4 million to establish an Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the State Department.

• $220 million for the Kennedy Center and the National Gallery of Art.

• $45 million for great apes living in central Africa and Indonesia.

• No provisions to halt implementation of Risk Rating 2.0, a Federal Emergency Management Agency plan that raises flood insurance premiums on Louisianians.

The White House has failed to send Congress a formal request for Louisiana disaster aid, without which Senate Democrats are not expected to approve additional disaster funding.

In response, Kennedy introduced an amendment to this FY2022 funding bill that would deliver $2.5 billion in disaster aid to Louisiana.

Kennedy also fought for nearly $600 million in disaster relief to be included in the short-term funding bill that became law after passing the Senate on Sept. 30, 2021. This law provided $595 million to Louisiana.

Video of Kennedy’s comments is available here.

9,000 Ways to Stop American Oil & Gas

Responding to the White House Blame Game

• The White House is spinning hard to shift blame for high gasoline prices onto the industry

• The repetition of 9,000 unused federal leases/permits is out of context

• There are myriad obstacles the administration puts in the way of American producers that have served to favor Russia

• Please let me know if you’re experiencing others.

On March 3rd, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, in response to a question about increasing domestic oil production, attempted to shift blame to oil companies by citing “9,000 approved oil leases that the oil companies are not tapping into currently.” In subsequent press conferences, she adjusted that to 9,000 permits and went on a Twitter storm to shift blame.

While we may not appreciate the cynical attempt to deny the effects of the president’s own “no federal oil” policies, we appreciate the White House is suddenly messaging to “encourage” us to produce. When my tweet was picked up by a Fox News White House correspondent, it garnered more attention than usual, leading environmental groups to jump in and pound on the 9,000 approved APDs outstanding.

.@PressSec answers @JacquiHeinrich by blaming oil producers for not developing on 9,000 leases. We can't develop our leases if permits aren't approved (4,500 outstanding) & with myriad other delays the administration puts in the way of American producers. https://t.co/RxPvqCySKW

— Kathleen Sgamma (@KathleenSgamma) March 3, 2022

As federal oil and natural gas is a highly complex system and with only 280 characters available in Twitter, I chose a longer format, our Source Rock blog, to provide some insight into the numbers and the “myriad other delays the administration puts in the way of American producers.” Thanks to the behind-the-scenes work of Aaron Johnson, our VP of Public Affairs, the Wall Street Journal editors caught wind of the information.

Here’s a look at the 9,000 numbers. I hope you find it useful for explaining the issue to friends and family who may ask. If I’m missing anything you’re seeing or I’ve misstated the issues, please let me know. These points are being circulated widely, so I want to get them correct.

By the Numbers

First the 9,000 leases. There are about 37,496 leases in effect. Assuming Jenn Psaki’s number on nonproducing leases is correct (FY 2021 data are not yet available from BLM), a 76% lease utilization rate would be a historic high. The FY 2020 number was 13,618 nonproducing leases or a very high 64% lease utilization rate. Given that no new leases were issued in 2021, the percentage is somewhere north of 64%, much higher than the normal 50% rate, as our industry continues to produce more on less federal land. Why aren’t we developing those “9,000 leases”?

• Many leases are held up in litigation by environmental groups. Western Energy Alliance is in court defending over 2,200 leases, most of which cannot be developed while those cases wind their way through the courts.

• Companies must put together a complete leasehold before moving forward, particularly with the long laterals that can cut across multiple leases. Sometimes a new lease is needed to combine with existing leases to make a full unit. Since the Biden leasing ban remains in effect with no onshore lease sales held since 2020, some leases are held up waiting for new leases or for the government to combine them into a formal unit.

• Before allowing development on leases, the government conducts environmental analysis under NEPA (the National Environmental Policy Act), which often takes years to complete. Many leases can be hung up by NEPA or awaiting other government approvals.

• Finally, not all leases will be developed because, after conducting exploratory work, companies may determine there are not sufficient quantities of oil and natural gas on them. The country still benefits from the leasing revenue paid on the leases.

Let’s talk permits. There are 4,621 permits to drill awaiting approval. The government could approve these permits now, enabling companies to forward with development. There are also about 9,173 outstanding approved permits, but there are factors that cause companies to wait to drill those wells.

• Because of the uncertainty of operating on federal lands, companies must build up a sufficient inventory of permits before rigs can be contracted to ensure the permits stay ahead of the rigs. We drill wells in a matter of days and rigs are very expensive, so it’s a delicate balancing act.

• A BLM APD is not the only government approval required. Rights of way (ROW) can take years to acquire before companies can access their leases and put in natural gas gathering systems. With the pressure not to flare from regulators and investors, most companies cannot drill before gathering lines are in place. Timely approvals of ROWs would enable companies to develop sooner.

• The administration has worked with anti-oil-and-gas activists to slow pipeline infrastructure. Without pipelines to move the oil and natural gas produced, wells cannot be developed.

• Capital must be acquired. Activist investors, encouraged by an administration intent on expanding its financial regulatory powers, have worked to de-bank and de-capitalize the industry. Many companies, particularly the small independents who drill the majority of federal wells, are having difficulty acquiring the credit and capital necessary to develop. By calling off bureaucratic efforts to deny financing to the industry, the president would send a strong signal to the market that investments in oil and natural gas are safe and new production could move forward.

• The Biden Administration has embarked on an agenda of regulatory overreach with extensive new regulations in the works. The uncertainty of all the new red tape puts a damper on new investment and development today, especially on federal lands where the burden is highest. Consequently, companies prioritize their nonfederal leases because there’s less regulatory risk.

These are just some of the political and bureaucratic obstacles this administration is engaging in to slow American production. Please let me know what I’m missing or getting wrong. I can’t represent industry without your feedback.

Kathleen Sgamma
President
Western Energy Alliance

Moon Griffon Speaks to Sen. Rand Paul

On Tuesday’s Moon Griffon program (3/8/22), Moon spoke with Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky on a variety of issues, which can be found below.

KENNEDY: Janet Yellen Just Gave Putin $18 BILLION Dollars

Senator John Kennedy, (R) Louisiana, is not pleased at all about Sec. Janet Yellen giving $18 BILLION to Putin

Senator Kennedy is not pleased.

Biden and Janet Yellen just gave Putin $18 BILLION via the IMF.pic.twitter.com/ARSKJNETpD

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 8, 2022

LOGA Responds to Biden Administration Ban on Russian Energy Imports

BATON ROUGE, LA (March 8, 2022) - Today, President Joe Biden is expected to ban Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports to the US.

In response, Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Mike Moncla released the following statement:

“Today’s ban on Russian energy imports is an important step in applying pressure on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

It’s clear that the Biden Administration hasn’t had domestic energy’s best interest in mind thus far.

Let’s not forget – the price of oil had doubled and the price of a gallon of gas had tripled before Russia invaded Ukraine’s sovereign borders.

That being said, today’s action is a positive step that Republicans and Democrats alike in Congress made possible.

Fighting against Russian aggression shouldn’t be a partisan issue. This is something that we can all come together on."

Congressman Troy Carter Discusses Mardi Gras on the Floor of the House of Representatives

Congressman Troy Carter of Louisiana brought a taste of South Louisiana and Mardi Gras to the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Provided by Cajun Conservatism

Senator John Kennedy: Make Putin a Pariah

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy had this to day regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Make Putin a Pariah

MARDI GRAS — The Perfect Day for Biden's State of the Union Address

Tomorrow, Joe Biden will deliver his 2022 State of the Union address. Tomorrow also happens to be Mardi Gras Day. Of course, this is pure coincidence but it gives the Democrats forced to sit in the House chamber and listen to the President’s speech an excuse to wear a full face mask and thereby conceal their identities, in the best Mardi Gras tradition of secrecy.

Certainly, all but the most progressive morons in their party will wish to hide their full faces from the public’s stern gaze- an ordinary COVID mask simply won’t do the trick, and we have just learned that they will not be required in the House chamber anyway. Fact is, the Democrats’ incredible buffoonery would make for great comical entertainment were it not for the enormous damage which they and their president have inflicted on the country and the world in the first four hundred days of the Biden presidency. 

Every adult American should watch this speech to see how this rhetorically, intellectually, and morally compromised president makes the best of an utterly awful first year of his administration.  Depending on one’s political persuasion, it will make for high drama, tragedy, or comedy, but it will be interesting to watch.

But it will not be bipartisan, of that you can be assured. At this trying time, America sorely needs bipartisanship, but it will not be on offer. This President, elected under false pretenses as a moderate Democrat, has been anything but moderate. In fact, he has governed as something of the court jester of the progressive/socialist wing of the Democrat Party, which is to say that he has become the spokesman and chief enforcer of American Marxism. And the results of this charade have been entirely predictable:

According to the latest Quinnipiac poll, just 37% of Americans approve of Joe Biden, while 56% disapprove. His disapproval rating is an abysmal 61% among independents, and fully 58% of Americans say that the state of our union is worse now than it was only a year ago. (Considering the overwhelming evidence, we must assume that the other 42% have resorted to some very heavy drugs and can no longer think clearly.)

Joe Biden lied about his candidacy quite simply because he would not have been elected if he had told the truth about his real plans for governing the country. That much we can at least understand if we cannot forgive, but he then promptly squandered the recovery bequeathed to him by Donald Trump. Let us not forget that had it not been for the Republicans in Congress and a couple of Senate Democrats who stood in the way of “Build Back Better,” the nation’s inflation rate, already the developed world’s highest, would be trending into the 10-12% range instead of the current 7.9%.

And Americans remember his promises to defeat COVID in a hundred days and fix the supply chain bottleneck in time for Christmas. They know who opened a secured southern border to an epic influx of illegal aliens and drugs. They also know who led the party which attacked the police and egged on those responsible for dozens of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage, while the crime rate increased at record levels.

But the worst damage and the greatest danger has been and will continue to be, for the duration of Joe Biden’s presidency, in the field of foreign relations. We all know about the needless tragedy in Afghanistan, but those less versed in the wiles of foreign policy may not realize how much the Afghan debacle had to do with the current crisis in Ukraine. There will likely be future crises over Taiwan’s independence, Iranian nukes, North Korean misbehavior, etc., all because Putin, Xi Jinping, the Ayatollah and other of the world’s villains have sized up Joe Biden, and they were obviously not impressed. 

Over the remaining thirty-four months of his presidency, all Americans of every political stripe will be called upon to pay the price for Joe Biden and the Democrat Party’s lies, chicanery, and ineptitude.

But tomorrow is a special day which was created to forget our troubles. Happy Mardi Gras, at least until 8PM Central time tomorrow night!

Louis Gurvich, Chairman
Republican Party of Louisiana

Group of Republican State AGs Call for DHS Secretary to Resign

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry signed off on this letter; a copy of the document can be found here.

The lawmakers cited the amount of fentanyl seized at the border starting when Mayorkas took office until December 2021, claiming it was enough to “kill every man, woman, and child in our country SIX TIMES over – an increase of over 30 percent since before you took office.” 

They also cited an uptick in sex offenders arrested entering the country last year, as well as falling deportation numbers since 2020. 

“Americans have died because of your failure to obey the law and do your solemn duty. More Americans will unnecessarily die and suffer for as long as you remain as Secretary,” the attorneys general wrote. “You must resign immediately.”

The letter’s signatories included attorneys general of: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. 

Read more: Group of Republican State AGs Call for DHS Secretary to Resign