Latta, Balderson commend House subcommittee passage of REFINER Act

U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Troy Balderson (R-OH) on Tuesday applauded action by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security for passing their bill to help increase energy refining capacity in the United States.

The Researching Efficient Federal Improvements for Necessary Energy Refining (REFINER) Act, H.R. 1085, now awaits approval by the full U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee.   

“I am pleased to see my REFINER Act advance through the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee,” Rep. Latta said on Feb. 28, noting that H.R. 1085 “will help us identify ways we can expand refinery capacity to ensure there is an abundance of affordable and reliable energy right here in America.” 

Rep. Latta sponsored H.R. 1085 on Feb. 17. Rep. Balderson on Feb. 21 signed on as a cosponsor of the bill, which currently has a total of six cosponsors.

“The REFINER Act reflects the urgency that E&C Republicans have placed on strengthening U.S. energy security now and into the future,” said Rep. Balderson. “I look forward to working with my fellow Ohioan, Rep. Bob Latta, to ensure this legislation advances to the House floor.”

If enacted, H.R. 1085 would address the diminished refining capacity in the U.S. by collecting critical information, including identifying factors leading to low refining capacity, and presenting lawmakers with recommendations to expand refining capacity, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

Additionally, the bill would require the National Petroleum Council to submit a report to the U.S. Secretary of Energy and Congress detailing the role of petrochemical refineries in the U.S. and the contribution they make to the nation’s energy security, including the reliability of supply in the U.S. of liquid fuels and feedstocks, and the affordability of liquid fuels for consumers in the U.S., the summary says.

The council’s report also must include analyses and projections for the capacity of petrochemical refineries in the U.S., opportunities for expanding capacity, and current risks to the refineries; as well as an assessment of any federal or state executive actions, regulations, or policies that have caused or contributed to a decline in refining capacity, states the summary.

“Diminished refining capacity in the United States has only exacerbated soaring energy prices that have hurt the pocketbooks of hardworking families, farmers, and manufacturers in Ohio and across the country,” added Rep. Latta.