Sen. Mike Lee to Chair Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in January

Senator Mike Lee of Utah has been selected to chair the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources when the Senate returns in January. This appointment follows the retirement of former Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who previously held the chair position.

Sen. Lee, known for his advocacy on energy issues, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the new role. On his social media account, he stated, “I support clean energy. That’s why I support coal and natural gas.” He also mentioned, “Time to get to work and unleash American energy,” highlighting his commitment to energy policy.

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources oversees a wide range of legislative areas, including public lands, water resources, issues affecting Native American communities, and energy resources. Sen. Lee’s leadership in energy legislation has been notable, particularly with initiatives such as the Stop the Grinch Act during the COVID-19 pandemic, which aimed to temporarily suspend the Jones Act to reduce shipping costs for Alaskans.

Recently, Sen. Lee introduced the “Undoing NEPA’s Substantial Harm by Advancing Concepts that Kickstart the Liberation of the Economy” (UNSHACKLE Act), a bill designed to streamline and reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by reducing the scope of environmental reviews for federally funded projects.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who serves on the committee and has seniority over Lee, was not considered for the chair position due to Senate rules that prevent her from serving again in that role. Despite this, Sen. Murkowski is expected to maintain a significant role, potentially as an Appropriations Subcommittee Chair, given her seniority within the Republican caucus.