Summary

Declares that States should retain primary authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on State and private lands and prohibits the President from imposing a national moratorium on hydraulic fracturing unless Congress enacts a law that expressly authorizes such a moratorium. The text presents a formal "sense of Congress" favoring state regulation and establishes a rule limiting the President’s unilateral ability to declare a nationwide fracking moratorium.

Key Points

• Affirms that States should have primary authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing on State and private lands.
• Expresses a formal "sense of Congress" favoring State-level regulation of fracking.
• Prevents the President from imposing a national moratorium on hydraulic fracturing unless Congress passes a law approving such a moratorium.
• Does not create new funding, programs, or federal regulatory requirements — it is a policy statement and a restriction on executive action.
• Likely increases regulatory variability across States by reaffirming State primacy.
• Limits a unilateral federal option for quickly pausing fracking at the national level.
• Would leave existing federal regulatory authorities (other than a moratorium power) and State rules in place unless altered by other laws or rules.

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