©2026 League of Conservation Voters
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) sponsored an amendment to H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, to mandate unnecessary onshore oil and gas drilling lease sales. The amendment would result in hundreds of thousands of acres of public land being offered for lease, including land with low or no potential for development, land far from existing infrastructure, and land near endangered species habitats. For years to come, this amendment would lock up public land that could be managed for conservation, recreation, or other public good. The oil and gas industry has already stockpiled millions of acres of unused leases, and new leases that are sold would not start producing for years or decades, thus having no impact on current oil prices. On August 7, the Senate rejected the Barrasso amendment by a vote of 50-50 (Senate roll call vote 291). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.
©2026 League of Conservation Voters