Wicker: Champions American Energy

Note: The following is the weekly Wicker Report from Mississippi U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, written by the Senator and provided by his office. Opinions are Sen. Wicker’s and not necessarily that of this publication.  

Domestic Production Boosts American Commerce and Security

For four years, President Biden has unwisely placed environmental standards above the United States’ energy needs. His officials have embraced a long Democratic tradition: finding “green” excuses to limit domestic oil, gas, and critical minerals production – hurting American companies and helping our adversaries.

In the 1990s, I fought President Clinton’s “tin cup diplomacy,” as he went hat-in-hand to buy oil from rogue nations instead of producing energy at home. I persuaded Congress to approve what became the largest boom of offshore development in the Gulf of Mexico – until Presidents Obama and Biden restricted it. And today, I am supporting the efforts of Mississippi companies working to achieve energy independence.

Loosening Restrictions On Iran, Tightening Them On America

Like his predecessors, President Biden has loosened restrictions on one of the world’s foremost dictators. He ended Trump-era sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran, hoping to woo Ayatollah Khamenei into ending Tehran’s nuclear program. Instead, Iran simply enjoyed soaring oil revenues.

Meanwhile, the president has tightened regulations at home. The day he took office, he stopped an addition to the Keystone XL pipeline. He has blocked new oil and gas permits on federal land as well as future permits for liquid natural gas export projects. This September, the administration published the number of oil and gas leases it plans to sell in the next five years. To no one’s surprise, it contained the fewest expected sales a president has ever announced.

These decisions weaken the reliability of American energy. They send producers to other nations, signal that we are an inconsistent trading partner, and play into the hands of our foes.

“Green” Rules Drive America Into The Arms of China

Biden administration officials have also made it difficult to access critical minerals. These resources have widespread civilian applications and are required for building cell phones, laptops, and medical tools. The military also uses them to produce munitions, aircraft, and other technology.

Many of these minerals sit in dormant American mines, but we still rely on imports from our adversaries, including China. Beijing owns numerous mines where these resources are harvested without any oversight, and it has developed technology to process the rare earth elements. Consumers around the world have adopted smartphones, personal computers, and other ubiquitous technologies. Consequently, manufacturers have sought record levels of critical minerals. China has responded to this rising demand by tightening its grip on the supply chain.

Last year, Beijing restricted exports of chipmaking components and even banned exports of technology used to extract and separate certain critical minerals. In September, China fulfilled its pledge to stem the flow of antimony, which is key to the production of weapons and semiconductors. The Stibnite mine in Idaho, slated to produce antimony, has been waiting years for permits. China plans to restrict tungsten and magnesium. Both are used in civilian and military products.

It should have been a no-brainer for the Biden administration to expedite permits for rare earth mines. But the president bowed to his liberal, activist base and slowed the industry he could have championed. Ironically, appeasement has led President Biden to a schizophrenic energy policy. He has pushed an extreme “green” agenda that would depend on technology created with critical minerals. But he has resisted the permitting reform that would enable such an energy transition.

Energy Independence Is A National Security Issue

The United States desperately needs a president who leads with a policy of peace through strength. Energy independence is one way we can protect our nation from the whims of dangerous leaders in China and beyond. I look forward to working with President-elect Trump to make the most of our natural resources and secure American energy.