Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) sponsored an amendment to H.R. 1, the so-called Lower Energy Costs Act, which would strike provisions in the bill that would repeal long-overdue, commonsense reforms to the federal oil and gas leasing program enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Specifically, the IRA included a royalty rate increase that aligns with state royalty rates, updates to fees to reflect inflation after remaining unchanged for decades, and the elimination of non-competitive leasing where lands can be leased for as little as $1.50 per acre. Together, these reforms ensure a fairer return for communities and federal taxpayers for industry’s use of our shared public lands. Repealing these provisions would undo this progress and add at least $160 million to the deficit over the next 10 years according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). On March 30, the House rejected the Levin amendment by a vote of 205-228 (House roll call vote 176).