Cassidy, Energy Committee Republicans Introduce Bill to Bolster Strategic Petroleum Reserve

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Hoeven (R-ND), James Lankford (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) today introduced the Strategic Production Response (SPR) Act to prioritize American energy production. The bill prohibits the Secretary of Energy from tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for reasons other than a severe energy supply interruption until the secretary of the Interior issues a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands and waters.

"Instead of ramping up production, the Biden administration chose to tap the strategic national reserve, which did nothing to solve the long-term supply problem driving up gas prices," said Dr. Cassidy. "Americans need real solutions to skyrocketing gas prices, not a band-aid fix."

"President Biden's decision to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is not a solution for the skyrocketing energy prices that American families are facing," said Senator Barrasso. "Before tapping the Reserve for political reasons, our bill requires the administration to issue a plan to boost federal oil and natural gas production. The Strategic Production Response Act provides a real solution to the Biden administration's reckless policies. America is stronger and safer when we are energy independent."

"Since taking office, President Biden has worked to destroy Made in America and Made in Montana energy every step of the way-from killing the Keystone XL pipeline to halting new oil and gas leases on federal lands. Now, President Biden is begging OPEC to produce more oil and is tapping into the nation's oil reserve to try and cover up the ramifications of his disastrous anti-American energy policies. These desperate moves are not the solution-investing in American energy production is, which includes oil and gas. Instead of tapping into emergency reserves, we need to boost domestic production, and any reserves removed in an effort to cover up his mistakes must be refilled, it's as simple as that," said Senator Daines.

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