Sen. Mike Lee of Utah will chair Senate Natural Resources Committee in January

By
Suzanne Downing
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7

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah will be the incoming chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources when the Senate returns in January. He takes over from former Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of Virginia, who is retiring from the Senate.

Lee is an energy advocate. On his “@BasedMikeLee” account on X, he wrote, “I support clean energy. That’s why I support coal and natural gas.”

The committee oversees legislation relating to public lands, water, issues that matter to Native Americans, and energy resources.

The senator said he was “humbled and honored” to have been selected by his Republican colleagues. “Time to get to work and unleash American energy,” he wrote on X.

During this year’s election campaign season, he endorsed Congressman-elect Nick Begich for Alaska’s at-large seat. His leadership in energy legislation has been legendary in the Senate. His Stop the Grinch Act during the Covid pandemic would have helped Alaskans by temporarily suspending the Jones Act, which drives up shipping costs.

Last week, he introduced “Undoing NEPA’s Substantial Harm by Advancing Concepts that Kickstart the Liberation of the Economy,” (UNSHACKLE Act). The bill would streamline and reform the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, by scaling back onerous environmental reviews for federally funded projects.

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski serves on the committee and has seniority over Lee, she was not offered the position of chair because of Senate rules; she has already served as chair and is term-limited. She may be hoping for a seat on Appropriations.

7 COMMENTS

  2. If Murkowski is looking for a seat anywhere, she should look for a seat on the bus leaving D.C.
    If the RCV goes down today, her days are numbered!
    We can hope and pray for a “YES” victory, and if our prayers are answered, we can all wave good-bye to Lisa.
    ( I know, if is a very big word)

  3. Senator Murkowski holds a seat on appropriations and is third in line behind Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell to be the top Republican on the full committee. I dont think it is proper to characterize Lisa as “hoping” to remain on the committee. The regular order is that senior Republicans who wish to serve continue to serve. As a result of her seniority she will be an Appropriations Subcommittee Chair as well. This might be an appropriate time to remind readers that unlike in the Alaska Legislature there is no “caucus vote” in the US Senate. The written rules of the Senate Republican Caucus expressly provide that Senators a free to vote as they choose without fear of retaliation. I will be glad to provide the link upon request.

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