Bice introduces bill to protect Strategic Petroleum Reserve

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) recently signed on as the lead original cosponsor of a Republican-led bill that would prohibit a drawdown and sale of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) if the president withdraws certain land from oil and gas leasing.

“This legislation would disallow the president from ordering a sell off from the SPR while executive orders or mandates are in effect blocking oil and gas leasing on federal lands,” Rep. Bice said on Dec. 17. “The SPR was created specifically to draw upon in times of emergency or significant shortage, not to help a president whose strategies have failed to save face with the American people.”

Rep. Bice introduced the Strategically Lowering Gas Prices Act, H.R. 6297, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC) and seven other original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Tom Cole (R-OK). The legislation, if enacted, would ensure that the president only uses the SPR as an emergency measure of last resort when the administration’s own actions are not negatively impacting the supply of oil and gas in the United States, according to a bill summary provided by the congresswoman’s staff.

“President Biden’s actions continue to degrade our nation’s oil and gas industry and the high-paying jobs that it provides,” said Rep. Bice. “Instead of turning to American companies to increase output, Biden used his executive power to release 50 million barrels of oil from our country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help lower gas prices. That’s why the Strategically Lowering Gas Prices Act is important.”

H.R. 6297 has been referred to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee for consideration.