Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve From China Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, legislation offered by my good friend, the gentlewoman from Washington State and the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Over the first 2 years of the Biden administration we have seen an unprecedented level of hostility toward America's energy producers. The administration has made every effort to undermine, avoid, and restrict oil and gas production in North America, while at the same time moving to drain our strategic reserves in an attempt to offset the price increases caused by the President's own policies.

Playing politics with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has resulted in the lowest level it has been in decades.

If this wasn't alarming enough, just wait until you hear who has benefited from our reserves being drained: the Chinese Communist Party. As part of this administration's Strategic Petroleum Reserve sales, a little under 1 million barrels were bought by UNIPEC, the Chinese Petrochemical Corporation.

The shortsightedness shows the Biden administration is willing to put our national security at risk by selling vital reserves to our adversaries to manipulate market prices in hopes of getting political advantage. This is not right, and every single Member of this body should be opposed to such actions.

While we investigate these actions, we must ensure they never happen again. That is why I am proud to be an original cosponsor to the Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act.

This bill would prevent the Secretary of Energy from selling any products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to any entity owned or under the control or influence of the Chinese Communist Party, or to any other entity that intends to export products to China.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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