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Members of Alabama’s GOP congressional delegation urge Biden to change course on energy independence

President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced he was banning the import of Russian oil. As part of the ban, Biden said 30 million barrels of oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserves would be utilized from the United States.

Instead of drilling in other countries as part of the ban, Republican members of Alabama’s congressional delegation called on Biden to reverse his energy policy and unleash American energy to alleviate the higher oil prices.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), the ranking Republican of the House Armed Service Committee, called Biden’s ban on Russian oil “an important step” but questioned why the president was “so keen on giving money to regimes who hate our country instead of buying American.”

“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – energy independence is economic and national security. Banning the import of Russian oil is an important step that I have repeatedly pushed the Biden administration to take,” Rogers said in a statement. “However, I am incredibly concerned about reports that the Biden administration is looking at buying oil from equally evil regimes in Venezuela and Iran. President Trump knew the importance of energy independence and made it a priority. Unfortunately, President Biden undid President Trump’s pro-energy policies and Americans are suffering because of it. We have the resources and ability to produce our own energy – why is President Biden so keen on giving money to regimes who hate our country instead of buying American?”

U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile), Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Barry Moore (R-Mobile), and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) all echoed a similar call for an end to the president’s reversal of energy independence.

 

Prior to Biden’s announcement, the United States was importing approximately 7.9% of its crude oil from Russia.

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