Alaska's Hill delegation introduces measure to open Arctic to drilling, reinstate canceled leases

The Alaska congressional delegation is pushing back against the Biden administration’s decision to ban oil and gas development on the state’s North Slope.

GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan have introduced legislation that would reverse the drilling ban on 13 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

“Alaska has a right to produce our own energy for the sake of quality economic opportunities and good-paying jobs, and for the energy security of the entire nation,” Sullivan said.

In addition, GOP Rep. Mary Peltola, Alaska's lone House member, has sponsored a companion bill in the lower chamber with Minnesota Republican Rep. Peter Stauber.

On Jan. 6, 2021, the Trump administration issued oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Biden administration's Interior Department six months later suspended the leases.

In September, the department officially canceled the remaining leases and proposed tighter restrictions on drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve.

Alaska’s Right to Produce Act of 2023  would reinstate the leases awarded under former President Donald Trump and reverse the proposed ban.