Rep. Pfluger, Sen. Lummis Push to Protect Small Energy Producers

WASHINGTON, DC - As first reported in the Washington Examiner, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced bicameral legislation to protect small producers in America from burdensome, Biden-era federal air pollution rules.

Small oil and gas producers play an essential role in maintaining America's energy independence and supporting local economies. Despite operating marginal wells with comparatively low emissions and limited resources, many of these independent operators are being squeezed by costly Biden-era regulations designed for large-scale producers. Without targeted regulatory relief, many of these small businesses risk shutting down wells that American energy dominance depends on.

The Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act of 2026 is a commonsense solution that ensures small producers can continue operating to help maintain a stable and secure energy supply by amending the Clean Air Act to exempt smaller producers from certain federal air pollution rules.

"America's energy security depends on the strength of our domestic production, and small producers are a critical part of that equation. Too often, these operators are disadvantaged by costly, one-size-fits-all regulations that were never designed with their operations in mind. Through targeted, commonsense reforms to the Clean Air Act, this bill will help keep small producers in business, protect American jobs, and preserve the stable domestic energy supply our economy depends on," said Rep. Pfluger

"Wyoming's small oil and gas operators should not be subject to blanket federal regulations that were never designed for businesses their size. The Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act protects hundreds of small businesses and supports good-paying jobs by ensuring durable protection against shifting regulatory priorities across administrations," said Senator Lummis.

The bill is supported in the House by Representatives Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Ron Estes (KS-04), Julie Fedorchak (ND-At-Large), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Bob Latta (OH-05), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Randy Weber (TX-14), Roger Williams (TX-25), and Gabe Evans (CO-08). It is supported in the Senate by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and John Barrasso (R-WY).

Text of this legislation is available here.

Read more in the Washington Examiner here or by clicking the image below:

The legislation is also supported by several key outside groups, such as the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), the National Stripper Well Association (NSWA), the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers (TAEP), and the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PWA), who released the following statements of support:

Dan Naatz, EVP and Chief Policy Officer, Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), said, "IPAA strongly supports this bicameral legislation introduced by Congressman Pfluger (R-TX-11) and Senator Lummis (R-WY) to bring regulatory clarity to small producers on the management of their air emissions. Historically, the EPA has regulated the industry with a top down, one-size-fits-all approach. This leaves small producers continually fighting through regulatory uncertainties that EPA cannot anticipate. Operating costs continue to rise, market conditions for oil and natural gas can be volatile, and changing presidential administrations create additional uncertainty. This bill allows states to manage emissions from low production wells efficiently and effectively. IPAA has worked on this issue with various state and national industry partners for many years and will keep supporting small producers and work with other industry advocates to advance their interests."

Patrick Montalban, Chairman, The National Stripper Well Association (NSWA), said, "NSWA would like to thank Rep. Pflugerfor introducing the 'Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act of 2026.' This legislation corrects a misapplication of EPA resources by carving out a right-sized regulatory path for marginal production, without stripping the EPA of its broader industry authority. It's the kind of common-sense solution NSWA strongly supports. It is in our national interest to support American energy, American jobs, and the small businesses that produce ~1 million-barrels-per-day and ~166 million-cubic-feet-per-day out of ~900,000 wells in 36 states."

Karr Ingham, President, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, said, "The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers applauds Congressman Pfluger for authoring and introducing the 'Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act of 2026.'We appreciate his unwavering support for Texas oil and gas, and his efforts to protect independent oil and gas companies and the wells they operate. The methane regulations in place now - a product of the Biden Administration - are sweeping in scale and scope and include mandates for all operations in Texas and the U.S. to test and inspect operations no matter how small, and no matter how small the emissions. They are simply unworkable for smaller independent oil and gas operators and stand to jeopardize Texas oil and gas companies and the wells they operate. This one-size-fits-all approach will drive up costs to oil and gas operators and will without question lower total production and result in the loss of oil and gas jobs in the state. Most of the wells in Texas and the U.S. are classified as marginal wells, with little in the way of emissions. With each well, however, comes significant economic benefit in the form of royalty and working interest payments, employment, contractors, taxes paid to school districts and municipalities, and severance taxes paid to the state. We are grateful to Congressman Pfluger for his understanding and protection of the oil and gas landscape in the great state of Texas."