[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 140 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     OIL AND GAS LEASES MORATORIUM

  Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of 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, I believe President Biden's 
moratorium 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.
  My State of North Dakota is uniquely harmed by this action, given 
what is commonly referred to as the split estate issue. For roughly 100 
years, the Federal Government has retained Federal mineral rights on 
land near where State and/or private entities also hold surface and 
mineral rights. About 30 percent of the spacing units in North Dakota 
have interspersed federal mineral interests and therefore must go 
through the leasing process of the Bureau of Land Management--BLM--
regardless of its size.
  Accordingly, since the moratorium, it is estimated our State has lost 
$4.77 billion in tax revenues and $1.2 billion in private royalties. We 
are grateful the Louisiana Federal District Court Order agreed the 
Biden administration's actions are illegal, but unfortunately, we are 
being given no reason to think the near of this harmful policy is near.
  On a recent call between the leadership of the BLM Montana/Dakotas 
office and constituents from the region, BLM officials stated that they 
are canceling quarterly lease sales at least through the end of 
calendar year 2021. Citing the administration's plans to appeal the 
district court ruling, State Director John Mehloff said, ``We'll 
probably, at earliest, would be able to hold an oil and gas lease sale 
late first quarter of 2022.''
  That is disappointing, to say the least. Thankfully, North Dakota is 
taking action to protect our producers and America's energy security. I 
support the State's efforts in court and hope they are successful.

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