Washington, DC: In response to the release of the Interior Department’s report on the Federal Oil and Gas Leasing Program, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the following statement from Conservation Program Director Alex Taurel:

“This report confirms what we have long known: the federal oil and gas program is profoundly broken and rigged in favor of oil industry CEOs. It shortchanges taxpayers, communities, outdoor enthusiasts, and wildlife. We appreciate the Interior Department highlighting these long-standing and well-documented problems with the leasing program which needs wholesale reform without delay. Toward that end, the Senate should retain the common sense reforms to the oil and gas program included in the House’s recently-passed Build Back Better Act. It is also clear this program must be aligned with our climate goals, and we look forward to working with the Biden administration to accelerate the transition of our public lands and waters into assets in the climate fight.

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