Political speech, timestamped and in context

Daniel S. Sullivan: “A federal judge held that [the cancellation of leases] against the law.”

Featuring: Daniel S. Sullivan, Republican | U.S. Senate from Alaska

Dan Sullivan Touts Bill Promoting Resource Development In Alaska—Then Martin Heinrich Responds

Published October 1, 2026

Mr. President, one of the reasons there was very little lease activity when we passed the ANWR bill recently is because the Biden administration didn't execute on it. They canceled the leases. A federal judge held that [the cancellation of leases] against the law. So it was lawless action once we passed the bill. But again, one of the things my colleague never talks about is during the four years of the Biden administration … (22:55–22:59)

STATEMENT

Asserts a federal judge ruled the lease cancellations were illegal.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

See the main statements from Daniel S. Sullivan in this video

“70 executive orders and executive actions [were] exclusively and singularly focused on crushing Alaska.”
Asserts that 70 executive actions targeted Alaska's resource development.02:26-02:32
“In New Mexico, on federal lands went from a million barrels of oil a day to 2 million barrels a day.”
Asserts that oil production on federal lands in New Mexico increased from 1 million to 2 million barrels a day.10:48-10:54
“The place where people lived longer for that 25 year period more than any other state, was Alaska.”
Asserts that Alaska had the highest increase in life expectancy from 1980 to 2014.12:36-12:43
“Over 50% of all federal leases on all federal lands during the Biden administration were to drill for oil and gas in New Mexico.”
Claims over half of federal leases for oil and gas during the Biden administration were in New Mexico.23:27-23:36
“The Alaska Right to Produce Act 2.0 would provide greater certainty for responsible resource development on the north slope of Alaska.”
Asserts that the Act would enhance resource development certainty in Alaska.00:03-00:18
“Day one of the Biden administration, they issued 12 [executive orders] ready to go.”
Asserts that 12 executive orders targeting Alaska were issued on the first day of the Biden administration.02:33-02:37
“You're sanctioning my state more than you sanction Iran and Venezuela's oil and gas sector.”
Asserts that Alaska was sanctioned more than Iran and Venezuela's oil sectors.02:58-03:03
“We got mandatory lease sales for the next 10 years for NPRA, National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska for ANWR for Cook Inlet.”
Asserts that mandatory lease sales were secured for NPRA, ANWR, and Cook Inlet for the next 10 years.04:58-05:10
“We ripped that Biden rule out by the roots with a CRA here in the Senate.”
Asserts that a Congressional Review Act resolution was used to overturn a Biden administration rule.06:05-06:13
“In 2024, the House passed the Alaska Right to Produce Act 1.0.”
Asserts that the Alaska Right to Produce Act 1.0 was passed by the House in 2024.07:04-07:11
“They've written over 16 letters to administration officials, Democrat and Republicans, opposing ANWR development, NPRA development.”
Asserts that over 16 letters have been written to administration officials opposing ANWR and NPRA development.07:56-08:04
“Six separate letters to insurers and financial institutions, believe it or not, using the power of the Senate, writing the CEO of banks and insurance companies don't invest in Alaska.”
Asserts that six letters were sent to insurers and financial institutions urging them not to invest in Alaska.08:04-08:16
“Five Democrat House members voted for [the Alaska Right to Produce Act 1.0].”
Asserts that five Democratic House members voted for the Alaska Right to Produce Act 1.0.08:31-08:55
“For the coastal plain of ANWR, [the Alaska Right to Produce Act 1.0] protects oil and gas development in the non-wilderness portion of the coastal plain from being shut down or reversed by a future administration.”
Asserts that the Act protects oil and gas development in the non-wilderness portion of ANWR from future shutdowns.09:10-09:21
“In the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska, it similarly protects oil and gas development in NPRA from a shutdown by a future administration.”
Asserts that the Act protects oil and gas development in NPRA from future shutdowns.09:21-09:28
“The bill is designed to give companies greater certainty in terms of the leases that they already have in these areas that they can't be canceled.”
Asserts that the Act provides companies with greater certainty regarding the non-cancellation of existing leases.09:29-09:40
“When we started developing our resources, oil and gas on the North Slope, people got jobs, people got hospitals, people got flush toilets, people got health clinics and hospitals.”
Asserts that resource development on the North Slope led to improved infrastructure and services in Alaska.13:35-13:52
“The great Inupiat people here during the Biden administration, the head of the head of the tribe, the head of the Alaska Native Corporation, the head of the borough, all the leaders, all native Alaskans, came down to Washington D.C. eight times to try to meet with the Secretary of Interior, say, don't lock up our land, you'll hurt us. You know how many times she met with them? 0.0.”
Asserts that native Alaskan leaders attempted to meet with the Secretary of Interior eight times without success.14:18-14:41
“They locked up their land anyways, canceling native voices.”
Asserts that the land was locked up despite native opposition.14:42-14:46
“I'm really hopeful, because of life expectancy, because of jobs, because of lowering health care costs, because of lowering cost of energy, because of our national security, that my colleagues will do the right thing and pass my legislation, the Alaska Right to produce Act 2.0, right now.”
Asserts that the Alaska Right to Produce Act 2.0 will improve life expectancy, jobs, health care costs, energy costs, and national security.14:48-15:10
“There's been no place that's been studied more than the ANWR 1002 plane in terms of environmental laws and environmental impacts probably in the entire United States.”
Asserts that ANWR 1002 has been extensively studied for environmental impacts.22:06-22:21
“One of the reasons there was very little lease activity when we passed the ANWR bill recently is because the Biden administration didn't execute on it. They canceled the leases.”
Claims the Biden administration canceled leases, affecting lease activity after the ANWR bill.22:42-22:56
“They go from a million barrels to 2 million barrels a day.”
Asserts New Mexico's oil production increased from 1 million to 2 million barrels per day.23:39-23:43