Press Releases

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) voted for legislation that would prevent the Biden administration from initiating non-emergency withdrawals from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) before developing a plan to offset that withdrawal with increased oil and gas production.

President Biden has released a staggering 250 million barrels from the SPR – more than all former presidents combined. This figure represents more than one-third of America’s fuel reserves, which have now been depleted to their lowest recorded levels since 1984.

H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, would require the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in coordination with other departments, to submit a concrete plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands before authorizing any future, non-emergency withdrawal from the SPR. This plan must include provisions to ensure that the increase in oil and gas production is proportionate to the amount of fuel withdrawn from the SPR.

After voting, Congressman Allen made the following statement:

“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is intended for emergency use only. Evidently, the president’s idea of ‘strategy’ means using the SPR to evade the consequences of his own disastrous policies. This White House has issued no plan to restock the millions of barrels they have drained from our reserves, leaving the United States extremely vulnerable in the event of an actual emergency such as a natural disaster.

“American families are currently struggling through the worst energy crisis in decades. Instead of playing politics with the SPR, President Biden must flip the switch on domestic production and unleash American energy dominance. The Strategic Production Act will go a long way toward replenishing the fuel which this president has so thoughtlessly withdrawn, putting our national security at risk.”

Congressman Allen also spoke in support of H.R. 21 during debate on the House Floor on Thursday. His full remarks are available here.

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