Freshman Republican Congresswoman fights back on Biden’s environmental executive orders

Colorado Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert slammed President Joe Biden’s environmental executive order Wednesday. The executive order foists an indefinite moratorium on oil and gas leases on federal land. "People are losing everything they have and the only thing this President cares about is appeasing extremist environmentalists."

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty on climate change, with goals to limit global warming below 2 compared to pre-industrial levels. Congresswoman Boebert has been a heavy critic of the agreement and the President.

In a press release, Congresswoman Boebert said, "Blocking future oil and gas leases on 700 million acres is an unlawful attack on the livelihoods of the people in my district. COVID lockdowns have created enough unemployment and economic challenges without Joe Biden delivering more pink slips to thousands of Coloradans. While the Biden administration pretends big oil is its target, the reality is it’s the folks in small rural communities that will be hit hardest by today’s indefinite moratorium. The U.S. has the highest environmental standards in the world and if we aren’t responsibly developing these resources in America, then other countries will take these jobs and develop dirtier resources."

This executive order hits home to Boebert, as Colorado is one of the largest natural gas producing states in the country with the third Congressional District (Boebert’s district) accounting for 44 percent of Colorado’s natural gas production.

According to Boebert’s press release, oil and gas generate lavish amounts of revenue providing more than 230,000 jobs in Colorado alone. In 2015-2016, the oil and gas industry generated $839,000 for K-12 schools. One billion dollars in revenue is generated from the oil and gas industry in Colorado. The generated revenue goes towards state, local governments, and school coffers.

Colorado will not be the only state affected by the executive order. Based on an energy study, states including: Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, North Dakota, Montana, California, and Alaska will also be heavily affected by Biden's executive order.