Buried within the
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 (H.R.
4350)
passed last week, the Democratic House of Representatives approved
language creating a new position in the State Department dedicated to
promoting oil and fracked gas interests.
The language is taken from the Energy Diplomacy Act (H.R.
1311),
introduced by Rep. August Pfluger II (R-Texas) and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez
(D-Texas), both oil-patch members of the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
The bill establishes an Assistant Secretary of State for Energy
Resources, responsible for “protecting and advancing United States
energy security interests” and “coordinating energy activities” in the
State Department. The position will “support the development of energy
resources and the distribution of such resources,” “resolve
international disputes regarding the exploration, development,
production, or distribution of energy resources,” and “support and
coordinate international efforts to alleviate energy poverty.” “Energy
poverty” is a fossil-fuel industry term used to promote the development
of
coal,
oil, and gas in the developing world.
It was introduced as part of an amendment to the
NDAA on State Department operations (numbered
723 in the Rules Committee
list and
286
on the House floor) by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Michael
McCaul (R-Texas), the Foreign Affairs chair and ranking member. It
passed the House as one of 111 amendments included in en-bloc amendment
124,
agreed to 362 to 59 (roll-call vote
289).
Pfluger is a first-term congressman financed by the oil and gas
industry,
whose stated “primary concern in Congress is to protect our oil and gas
industry
from the radical Democrats.” Gonzalez is one of a dwindling number of
oil-patch Democrats financed by the oil and gas
industry
who opposes climate
action.
Despite its House passage, the bill will face a pro-forma
markup
in the Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday.
While the bill avoids mention of fossil-fueled climate change, it does
not preclude the new role from being dedicated to supporting renewable
energy development instead of fossil-fuel interests, although the
language about foreign energy markets and the Extractive Industries
Transparency Initiative would make little sense in
that case.