Rep. Bob Latta
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) on March 1 sponsored legislation that would prohibit imports to the United States of crude oil and petroleum products from the Russian Federation.
Rep. Latta introduced the Powering America through Domestic Energy (PADE) Act, H.R. 6886, which also would prohibit the U.S. president from declaring and implementing a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing, or on oil and gas leasing on federal lands unless Congress authorizes the moratorium, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Latta’s office.
“America is far too reliant on foreign energy,” Rep. Latta said. “Last year, we imported upwards of $17 billion of petroleum and crude oil from Russia, essentially funding Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Energy security is national security, and it’s critical we undo the actions of the Biden administration that have hindered the production of North American energy and made us more dependent on foreign oil and gas.”
Additionally, if enacted, H.R. 6886 would declare that the United States should support, and not limit access to, all domestic sources of energy development, according to the text of the bill.
This would be done by encouraging technological innovations to exploit the U.S. supply of natural gas; increasing domestic oil production, infrastructure and refining capacity; exploring and investing in the current nuclear fleet and advanced reactor technologies; rolling back Executive Orders that limit the exploration and development of domestic natural resources on federal lands; and taking advantage of domestic coal supply through processes such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage, among other provisions, the text says.
Among the 15 cosponsors of the bill are U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Ron Estes (R-KS), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), and David Valadao (R-CA).