House Republicans have advanced a measure to restrict presidential use of the nation’s emergency oil stockpile. The GOP bill would require the government to offset any nonemergency withdrawals from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve with new drilling. Republicans accuse President Biden of abusing the reserve, while Biden says it was needed in response to a ban on Russian oil imports. The bill was approved 221-205 on a near party-line vote, with Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) as the sole Democrat in support.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre attacked the GOP proposal, calling it a “vote to raise gas prices on American families” and “interfering with our ability to release oil”.
Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) had an exchange at the White House over the GOP bill, which Granholm said would make it “harder to offer Americans relief in the future” from oil disruptions.
The fight is over oil drilling and climate change: Republicans say restrictions hamper US energy production, while Democrats tout a sweeping climate law to wean the nation off fossil fuels and provide incentives for Americans to buy electric cars and more efficient appliances.
Biden canceled the Keystone XL oil pipeline & suspended new oil & gas leases on federal lands (since lifted under court order). Climate activists have pushed him to end new drilling on public lands, as fossil fuels extracted from public lands account for 20% of energy-related U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment America said: “When we drill, we spill…this bill doubles down on the outmoded energy of the past.” Conservative & industry groups support the bill, citing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Treasury Department estimates the release of oil from the emergency stockpile lowered prices at the pump by up to 40 cents per gallon.
Gas prices are up 30+ cents from a month ago and higher than when Biden took office. GOP’s McMorris Rodgers accused the “rush-to-green” agenda of shutting down American energy, but Granholm argued unused leases by oil companies invalidated the claims.
McMorris Rodgers pointed to “burdensome regulations” discouraging domestic oil and gas investment. The oil bill was the first to consider under a more open rules process. Two amendments by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) were approved, one to ban selling reserve oil to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia; the China measure won significant Democratic support.
Sources: https://www.ttnews.com/articles/house-republicans-seek-new-restrictions-use-oil-stockpile?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=News-Story-January-2023
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