A local leader helped shine a light on the impacts of the Biden administration’s Executive Orders affecting the energy industries during a special virtual forum that took place Friday. The House Committee on Natural Resources Republican members hosted the forum titled “Where Are The Jobs?” and Congressman Blake Moore invited Roosevelt City Mayor JR Bird as a witness. Mayor Bird described the ups and downs of the last year. “[With the pandemic], oil prices and futures crashed sending oil prices into the negative for the first time in history,” shared Mayor Bird. “In all my 20 years in the industry I’ve never experienced something so drastic, however, within 6 months oil prices began to improve and before Biden took office had almost recovered to pre-covid numbers. Since Biden has taken office there have been several policies and Executive Orders that have disrupted oil production causing many negative effects within our local economy as well as the nation’s economy,” he continued. “Biden’s most detrimental Executive Order for us and our local economy is the moratorium of drilling on federal lands…This is a huge impact on our local families, small businesses, local governments and quality of life. Many people have been unemployed for months…” To watch the “Where Are The Jobs?” forum and listen to all of Mayor Bird’s testimony, visit the House Committee on Natural Resources GOP YouTube page.
