WHEREAS, President Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States of America on November 8, 2016 and inaugurated on January 20, 2017; and

WHEREAS, at the 2016 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota, then- candidate Trump delivered a major energy and environmental policy address, outlining some of the priorities of his “America First Energy Plan”; and

WHEREAS, this Energy Plan includes several ambitious policy prescriptions designed to establish American energy dominance and remove regulatory impediments to the use of energy, while at the same time ensuring meaningful environmental protection and continued progress toward cleaner air and water; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order 13783, issued March 28, 2017, finds that “It is in the national interest to promote clean and safe development of our Nation’s vast energy resources, while at the same time avoiding regulatory burdens that unnecessarily encumber energy production, constrain economic growth, and prevent job creation,” and that “the prudent development of these natural resources is essential to ensuring the Nation’s geopolitical security”; and

WHEREAS, many of the policies enumerated in the “America First Energy Plan” have been implemented or undertaken within the first 18 months of the Trump presidency, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Rescinding overly burdensome executive actions and regulations, including the “Clean Power” Plan and the Waters of the U.S. Rule;

• Expanding energy infrastructure by approving all necessary permits for the Keystone XL, Dakota Access, and other pipeline projects;

• Lifting moratoriums on energy production on federal lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and expanding offshore oil and gas drilling;

• Canceling U.S. participation in the UN Paris Climate Treaty and ending all payments of U.S. tax dollars to the UN Green Climate Fund;

• Disbanding the Interagency Working Group on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases, and withdrawing various Obama Administration documents related to the implementation of Social Cost of Carbon and other GHGs;

• Discontinuing the use of friendly “sue and settle” lawsuits that have the effect of imposing government policy on behalf of special interests without congressional authorization or input from the states, other interested parties, and the general public;

• Undertaking the prescribed Midterm Evaluation of federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to ensure that input from all stakeholders, including motorists, as well as factors such as technological limitations, cost, safety, and consumer choice, are taken into full consideration; and

• Streamlining the Superfund program to ensure expedited cleanups and remediation and private sector participation.

WHEREAS, these policies have already had a significant impact on energy production, as evidenced by indicators such as the following:

• The U.S. surpassed Saudi Arabia in February 2018 and Russia in August 2018 to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil;

• In 2017 the U.S. exported approximately 97 million short tons of coal to other markets around the world, a 61 percent increase in just one year; and

• In terms of job growth, the fastest-growing industry in 2017 was support for mining, growing at an annual rate of roughly 20 percent, more than 13 times the average for all other industries.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that {state} expresses support for President Trump’s America First Energy Plan and congratulations and appreciation to the Trump Administration for its significant energy and environmental policy accomplishments to date.