U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) joined almost a dozen Republicans to introduce legislation that they say prioritizes American energy production and protects America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
“This administration put in place energy policies that have drastically restricted American energy production and caused prices to increase for consumers,” Sen. Hoeven said. “Rather than tapping into our nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is intended for emergency purposes, the administration should boost production of American energy to help lower prices and ensure our energy independence.”
Sen. Hoeven is one of 10 original cosponsors of the Strategic Production Response Act, S. 3287, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY). Among the cosponsors joining Sen. Hoeven in introducing S. 3287 are U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
If enacted, S. 3287 would prohibit the U.S. Energy Secretary from tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for reasons other than a severe energy supply interruption until the U.S. Secretary of the Interior issues a plan to increase oil and gas production on federal lands and waters, according to the text of the bill.
Each plan issued or updated under the enacted bill “shall include proposed actions to increase oil and gas production on federal land that are in addition to lease sales previously scheduled by the Secretary of the Interior under the Mineral Leasing Act and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act,” according to the bill’s text.
“North Dakota is an energy powerhouse with strong environmental stewardship,” said Sen. Hoeven, “and this legislation is about empowering American energy production over depending on our adversaries and less stable parts of the world.”