As Congress considers action to ban Russian oil imports in an effort to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine, several Republican senators have pushed bills promoting domestic energy independence, a trend also occurring in the House.
Montana Sen. Steve Daines this week sought unanimous consent to pass his bill, the Supporting Made in America Renewable and Traditional (SMART) Energy Act, but the measure was blocked. The bill would permit oil and gas leasing on federal lands but would also designate areas of federal lands for the creation of wind, solar, and geothermal energy leasing.
BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD BAN RUSSIAN OIL IMPORTS AMID UKRAINE INVASION
“Yes, we need to cut off Putin’s war chest by banning Russian energy imports, but we also need to increase American energy production at the same time,” Daines said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “It’s frustrating to see the Democrats block my bill supporting Made in America energy yesterday — a bill that increases not just traditional American energy, but also renewables. It makes no sense — we need to get this done for the sake of American families suffering from high energy costs, to strengthening American energy security and helping our allies.”
Daines this week was among a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers who introduced a bill to ban Russian oil imports to the United States, as the White House indicated it would not support such a move. The lawmakers argued that targeting these imports would be financially devastating for Russia and would deter its aggression.
Although White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration would not support a ban on Russian oil imports, there appears to be a growing consensus in Congress on the matter, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi telling reporters Thursday she would support banning Russian oil in response to the crisis.
Sens. Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski introduced the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, which would prohibit importing crude oil and other energy products from Russia into the United States for the duration of Putin’s invasion. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Brian Fitzpatrick of the Problem Solvers Caucus said they will introduce a companion bill in the House.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Despite the bipartisan support for banning Russian oil imports, even in the face of the White House’s opposition, Republicans took aim at President Joe Biden for signing an executive order to block the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office, which they argued deterred energy independence. Biden blocked finishing the project over concerns about climate change.
