Congressman Eli Crane | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Eli Crane | Official U.S. House headshot
On July 19, the House Committee on Natural Resources voted to advance H.R.4374, the Energy Opportunities for All Act – a bill introduced by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) – out of committee.
The Energy Opportunities for All Act would nullify the Biden Admin’s overreaching actions that ban citizens from lawfully exercising the rights over their lands and resources.
“I’m pleased the House Committee on Natural Resources passed my bill, which would reinforce and reassert the rights of allottees and citizens of Navajo Nation in light of the Biden Admin’s big government overreach. I thank Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman and look forward to my legislation receiving a vote on the House Floor,” said Rep. Crane.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren stated, “We would like to thank Representative Crane for his advocacy on our behalf. We are glad to see so much support for the Navajo allottees in the House Natural Resources Committee and we look forward to similar success on the House floor.”
Background:
In June, the Biden administration issued a Public Land Order banning approximately 336,404.42 acres of federal mineral estate surrounding the Chaco Canyon National Historical Park for 20 years. This effectively prevents all private landowners and Navajo allottees from mineral leasing land in this area.
The ban will have significant negative economic impacts on both Navajo Nation and the American taxpayer, severely limiting tribal revenue, economic development, self-sufficiency, and American energy production.
Chaco Canyon carries both cultural and historical significance for communities in the region. The development of this land should be determined by those with lawful sovereignty – not out-of-touch Biden admin officials hellbent on imposing their radical agenda on tribal communities.
The Biden admin’s ban makes it clear that the administration only cares about Tribal voices so long as they’re in line with the approved agenda.
Interestingly, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, when serving in Congress, had complained that “the Trump administration failed to fulfill its legal and moral obligation to consult with Native Americans,” while working on a lease sale that was ultimately deferred.
The Biden administration, of which Secretary Haaland is a part, is now imposing an unprecedented blockade on Native mineral rights and has refused to listen to Navajo Nation’s concerns.
Original source can be found here.
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