May 14, 2026

DENVER – Legislation to support federal employees working on oil and natural gas approvals in Bureau of Land Management offices across the West took a major step forward today. The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources passed the License to Drill Act (H.R. 7831) introduced by Rep. Mike Kennedy (UT-03), which reauthorizes the bipartisan Permitting Project Improvement Fund and funds BLM field offices overseeing leasing, permitting, and production. The program is set to expire in September if Congress does not act in time. The fund is 100 percent paid for by the fees on oil and natural gas drilling permits, and it is supported by Western Energy Alliance.

“Republicans and Democrats in Congress may not agree on much at the moment, but there’s strong support for the federal employees who perform the daily work that goes into managing oil and natural gas production. We’re glad lawmakers came together to advance this bill through the committee. We’re thankful for the leadership of Rep. Kennedy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman,” said Melissa Simpson, president of the Alliance.

“Today, companies who operate on public lands pay in excess of $12,500 for each drilling permit. Under the Permitting Project Improvement Fund, that money is used to support staff working on permit approvals as well as other oil and natural gas-related assignments. It’s a balanced approach that Congress has developed to utilize the development of energy resources on public lands while supporting the federal employees who manage the process. Their roles are important because 10 percent of the oil and natural gas produced in the United States comes from BLM’s public lands. We see today that their work is critical to the energy security of our country,” added Simpson.

Background

The Permit Processing Improvement Fund was created in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 as a pilot program. Following 10 years of success, Congress renewed it for an additional 10 years and expanded the program. Authorization for using drilling permit fees to fund portions of the PPIF expire in September.

Congress prioritized funding for eight high-volume BLM offices to support federal and Tribal oil and natural gas activities. The offices are in Colorado, Montana/North Dakota, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The PPIF supports BLM’s staff working on approvals for oil and natural gas activities, including permits, rights of way, environmental analysis, sundry notices, surface‑use plans. Money is also used for interagency coordination with other federal agencies, staff hiring, and training.

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