Washington, DC – , Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in support of H.R. 22- the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act: “In the wake of a politically- motivated, multi-country oil embargo that contributed to then-record high fuel prices, global energy shortages, and American energy security concerns, Congress established the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Since its inception the SPR has been both a national security and an energy security asset, helping reduce true energy supply disruptions. Yet, more recently, President Biden has irresponsibly utilized the SPR to cover up his failed policies, rapidly draining America’s petroleum reserves to its lowest levels since 1983,” said Lucas. “As well as tying the hands and limiting the U.S.’s ability to respond to energy disruptions, the Biden Administration is bolstering the oil reserves of the Chinese Communist Party, who continues to ramp up its purchases of crude oil. We must reverse the Biden Administration’s dangerous course of action.
“The Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act would prohibit the sale and export of America’s crude oil to our greatest generational threat-China- and would be a step in the right direction towards unleashing American energy production. American energy security and independence is essential to our national security and the economic security of every single American family, which is why we must invest in new technologies and expand our all-of-the-above energy production strategy. I applaud Chairwoman Rodgers for her leadership and look forward to working with my colleagues strengthening America’s energy security and making energy cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable for all Americans.”
Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, prohibits the sale and export of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Department of Energy from selling petroleum products from the SPR to any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party.