The State Journal is reporting on several pieces of legislation that were recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives: "The House approved two bills Nov. 20 aimed at speeding up drilling for oil and natural gas on public lands. *** The measures were among three energy bills the House is considering this week as Republicans who control the chamber push to expand an oil and gas boom that's lowered prices and led the U.S. to produce more oil last month than it imported from abroad. *** One of the bills approved Wednesday would set strict deadlines for federal approval of oil and gas permits and expand areas open to production. Another would restrict the Interior Department from enforcing proposed rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on public lands."
