Sen. Cramer Applauds North Dakota Lawsuit Challenging Biden Administration’s Cancellation of Oil and Gas Leasing

Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

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BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement today on North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem filing a lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s continued cancelation of oil and gas leases on federal lands and its impact on state and private mineral owners:

“In addition to being a foolish idea, President Biden’s moratorium on oil and gas leasing on public lands is illegal. It increases federal and state budget shortfalls, hampers state and private mineral owners’ rights, and makes the United States less energy independent and more reliant on foreign producers who are not all good actors like Russia, Saudi Arabia, or Venezuela. I support Attorney General Stenehjem’s effort in court, applaud him for standing up for North Dakota, and stand ready to help in any way I can.”

President Biden paved the way for this moratorium during his first days in office. Since then, Senator Cramer has worked with his colleagues to oppose it by helping introduce legislation to block it, supporting an amendment to this year’s budget resolution to assist local schools that lose funding because of the President’s action, and joining a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland pressing for transparency on their decision making process for this issue.