Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland during her visit to Houston at sites where abandoned oil and gas wells are being cleaned up and for a meeting with the Texas Railroad Commission to discuss implementation of the program made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included Congresswoman Fletcher’s REGROW Act to clean up these wells.  Congresswoman Fletcher and Secretary Haaland visited with the Texas Railroad Commission and toured orphan well sites scheduled for cleanup as a result of the funds made available through the new federal program the Department of the Interior has launched.  

“I was delighted to welcome Secretary Haaland to Houston and to hear from the Railroad Commission about the work they are doing and how the program and funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are increasing the scope of the program,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.   “It is a great example of what we can do working together—passing meaningful legislation, partnering with the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure implementation, and connecting with people here at home about how we can build on this work together.  Hearing from Texans that the programs our bill has made possible are a ‘game-changer’ was so wonderful.  I’m grateful to all those who are working together to make our communities and our environment safer through this program.”

While oil and gas operators are required to clean up wells when they stop producing, some operators cease functioning before that time.  With no solvent owner of record, the wells are designated “orphaned” wells.  These orphan wells can leak toxic chemicals into the air, contaminate groundwater, and emit methane, posing significant risks to neighboring communities. The Texas Railroad Commission has had a program to identify and plug these wells for more than 40 years, and the infusion of federal funds has helped grow the program and expand its reach.

In June 2021, Congresswoman Fletcher introduced the bipartisan REGROW Act, H.R. 3585, to address these problems and clean up orphan oil and gas wells.  In November 2021, she voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included the REGROW Act.  President Biden signed the bill into law later that month.  And in February 2022, she announced that the State of Texas would receive $343,695,029 in federal funds to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells as a direct result of her legislation. 

There are more than 56,000 documented orphan oil and gas wells across the country.  The REGROW Act aims to plug every documented orphan well in the country by investing $4.6 billion toward cleaning up these sites, creating tens of thousands of energy jobs for skilled oil and gas workers.

Congresswoman Fletcher is one of twelve members of Congress appointed to serve on the Regional Leadership Council, where she works with President Biden and his administration to ensure implementation of Democrats’ legislative accomplishments across communities and throughout the country.