[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SUPPORTING ORPHAN WELL GRANTS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for one minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
my bipartisan bill, the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act.
  We all know that abandoned wells, either unplugged or improperly 
plugged, can pose serious environmental and health risks to surrounding 
communities. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 27,000 
documented abandoned and orphaned oil and gas wells across the State.
  It is not just a Pennsylvania issue, however, as abandoned wells are 
found across the country. The Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act, which 
I introduced alongside my colleague Congressman Deluzio from 
Pennsylvania, will empower States to maximize their flexibility when 
plugging abandoned oil wells and cut red tape to accelerate 
environmental rehabilitation.
  We have many of the resources we need to plug these wells, and now it 
is our job to ensure that they are able to be used for their intended 
purpose.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Deluzio for joining me in leading 
this critical effort, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support 
this legislation.

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