January 30, 2023

Dear Friend:

Last week, I voted to hold the Biden Administration accountable and strengthen our national security through the Strategic Production Response Act.

The Biden Administration's policies have drawn down the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to its lowest levels since 1984, with no plan to replenish it. And because our pipelines and refineries were operating at maximum utilization at the time, the releases did not help bring down U.S. gas prices. Rather, they went to the global market, and often ended up in China.

The SPR is intended to be used in emergencies only, and with this level of depletion, the U.S. economy and national security are at risk.

Last week, under a Republican majority, the House voted to not only replenish it, but also protect it from misuse. The Strategic Production Response Act would require the Executive Branch to replenish and maintain the SPR in non-emergency circumstances to ensure we are prepared for a true energy emergency. 

This legislation only impacts non-emergency drawdowns of the SPR. If the president declares an emergency resulting from a severe energy supply interruption, the Energy Secretary has full authority to utilize the SPR. It is only in case of a non-emergency drawdown, like what we have seen over the last year, that a plan must be developed to increase federal lands available to make up for the amount drawn.