Pfluger urges Speaker Johnson, Leader McConnell to repeal Biden's natural gas tax

Oct. 30—WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) sent a letter along with 31 of his Republican colleagues to Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging the repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP) before the end of the year.

MERP is an inappropriate and highly unworkable tax that will reduce supplies of affordable energy and increase costs for Americans, a news release said. The letter is supported by the American Exploration and Production Council (AXPC).

In the letter, Rep. Pfluger writes: "This Congress, Republicans have made American energy security our top priority. As part of H.R. 1, the House voted in a bipartisan fashion to pass H.R. 1141, the Natural Gas Tax Repeal Act, to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act's Methane Emissions Reduction Program (MERP). We urge you to repeal the natural gas tax in a legislative package before the end of the year."

American Exploration and Production Council President & CEO Anne Bradbury: "American energy producers' commitment to methane emissions reductions is unwavering, but the methane tax was an ill-conceived policy that, when combined with other proposals in development at EPA, is being weaponized to penalize American energy production which is some of the cleanest and most heavily regulated in the world. As a result, it will lead to less energy security and higher energy prices for American families and businesses. We applaud Rep. Pfluger's leadership on this important issue and urge Congress to reconsider this punitive tax on American energy."

Read the full letter here.

The letter is led by Representative August Pfluger. Co-signers of the letter include Representatives Dan Crenshaw (TX-2), Kevin Hern (OK-1), Nathaniel Moran (TX-1), Randy Weber (TX-14), Mike Carey (OH-15), Jake Ellzey (TX-6), Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL), Stephanie Bice (OK-5), Robert Latta (OH-5), Dan Meuser (PA-9), Rick Allen (GA-12), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Larry Bucshon (IN-8), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Debbie Lesko (AZ-8), Greg Pence (IN-6), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Jeff Duncan (SC-3), Pete Stauber (MN-8), Lance Gooden (TX-5), Kat Cammack (FL-3), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Tracey Mann (KS-1), Alex Mooney (WV-2), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Julia Letlow (LA-5), Carol Miller (WV-1), and Roger Williams (TX-25).

Background: Congressman August Pfluger proudly introduced the Natural Gas Repeal Act to strike the Natural Gas Tax imposed by President Biden in the Inflation "Expansion" Act. The legislation was also included in H.R.1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which passed the House earlier this year. New fees or taxes on energy companies will raise costs for customers, creating a burden that will fall most heavily on lower-income Americans. This legislation would lower energy costs while reigning in President Biden's radical climate agenda, the release said.