Recently, 113 Democrats in the House of Representatives shifted, now siding with Republicans to ban the sale of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. The White House is scrambling to sweep this disunity under the rug.
“The House has passed bipartisan legislation that would ban the export of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Chinese companies. Given that oil has flowed to China from that reserve during both this administration and the previous one, is that the type of reform that the President would potentially support?” a reporter said to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday.
“So, look, I think this is a little bit of what the Secretary was talking about just moments ago. This bill addresses a non-issue; we’re very clear on that. We focus — we’re focused on advancing legislation that would lower costs for American families, not raise them. So, I’m just going to leave it there,” she replied.
The legislation is titled “Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act.” It passed in a landslide vote of 331-97 but now has to face a Democrat-led Senate where its future is uncertain.
The bill states:
“This bill prohibits the sale and export of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to China. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Energy (DOE) from selling petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the SPR to any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party. Further, DOE must require as a condition of any sale of crude oil from the SPR that the oil not be exported to China.”
Fox News reported on the legislation:
Republican leaders on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led by Ranking Member John Barrasso, R-Wyo., introduced companion bills of House legislation targeting President Biden’s use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
The first bill, the Secure Auction for Energy Reserves Act which Barrasso introduced with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, would prohibit the federal government from selling SPR stocks to China and other countries of particular concern. Earlier this month, the House passed similar legislation, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, by a margin of 331-97.
Another piece of legislation that was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday, the “Strategic Production Response Act.” This bill would only allow the Strategic Petroleum Reserves to be tapped by the Department of Energy only when there is a severe interruption to the supply and only after the Interior Department issues a plan to increase oil and gas production in the United States on federal lands and waters.
Senator Barrasso said:
“America is stronger and safer when we are energy independent. The Biden administration agenda is to choke off energy development on federal land. Our legislation will prevent President Biden from raiding the SPR for political purposes without boosting American oil production.”
Fox News reported:
Barrasso introduced the bill alongside Sens. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, John Hoeven, R-N.D., James Lankford, R-Okla., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss.
The bill is companion legislation to a bill with the same name introduced in the House by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and which is slated for a floor vote this week. However, Democrats and the White House have taken aim at the House bill, saying it would lead to higher prices.
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