On October 29, NFIB put out the bellow letter of support to Senator Sullivan for S.J. Res. 80. This resolution would overturn a Biden-era BLM rule that limited oil and gas production on 48% of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Thankfully, S.J. Res. 80 passed the Senate at the end of October, 52-45. The bill is now being considered in the House as H.J. Res. 124. NFIB’s letter of support on H.J. Res. 124 to Rep. Nick Begich (AK-AL) can be read here.

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The Honorable Dan Sullivan
United States Senate
706 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Sullivan: 

On behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business, I write in support of S.J. Res. 80, which would repeal a Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s “National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A) Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision” that restricted development on 23-million-acres of Alaska, which is approximately equivalent in size to the state of Indiana. Repealing this BLM rule is an important step in lowering energy costs for small business owners not just in Alaska, but across the whole country.

NFIB represents approximately 300,000 small and independent businesses across the United States, including more than 1,000 in the state of Alaska. In NFIB’s most recent Problems and Priorities survey, small businesses ranked the cost of natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil as their 6th most pressing issue.¹  Job creators depend on affordable, reliable, American energy so they can own, operate, and grow their small businesses.

The NPR-A was originally set aside by the U.S. Navy in 1923 as an emergency oil reserve. Today, BLM is responsible for setting an “expeditious program of competitive leasing of oil and gas” in the area. At Congress’ directive, the NPR-A is expressly meant to facilitate domestic energy production. Yet, BLM’s 2022 Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) explicitly disregarded this mandate. The 2022 IAP closed 48% of the NPR-A to leasing, and restricted infrastructure across millions of acres of land, despite opposition from local Alaskan communities and national energy experts.

In a recent NFIB member ballot, 88% of NFIB members supported Congress streamlining regulations on the production and transportation of energy sources.²  Repealing this burdensome BLM rule would do just that, allowing for the production of more American energy on land owned by the taxpayer.

NFIB supports repealing this burdensome rule and other rules that increase production costs and make energy less affordable and reliable for small businesses. We look forward to working with you to advance this bill and help ensure continued American energy dominance.

Sincerely,

Louis A. Bertolotti
Principal, Federal Government Relations
NFIB

[1] Holly Wade & Madeline Oldstone, Small Business Problems & Priorities, NFIB Research Center, July 2024. http://bit.ly/40uXas5.

[2] NFIB Member Ballot, Mandate, vol. 582., March 2023, Should Congress streamline regulations to facilitate the production and transport of oil, natural gas, and other energy sources in the United States? (Yes: 88% No: 6% Undecided: 6%)