On March 8, U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said that the banning of Russian oil would be "useless" unless the Biden Administration opened up access to American oil and gas.
Roy's response came after the bipartisan decision to embargo Russian oil in response to the nation's widely condemned invasion of Ukraine. The ban is alleged to have caused an increase in gas prices in the U.S. Russian oil accounts for 8 percent of U.S. oil imports and 2 percent of the total national supply.
In a floor speech to Congress March 7, Roy said "It’s not good enough to ban Russian oil if we’re not going to open up American oil and gas," Fox News reported March 8.
CNBC reported Feb. 24 that the Biden administration was "delaying decisions" on new oil and gas permits following a Feb. 11 ruling by U.S. District Judge James Cain. CNBC reports the pause is an "unintended result" of the ruling that higher cost estimates of climate change would increase energy costs and decrease state revenues from energy production.
Reuters reports Brent crude oil was $139.13 on March 7; prices declined to $110.85 per barrel by March 13, the news agency reports.
During his State of the Union Address, President Biden announced that 30 billion barrels of oil would be released to ease gas prices.
Rep. Roy continued his criticism of the U.S. approach to punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine with the oil import ban, among other moves, on social media earlier this month.
“Last night, after Dems blocked a sensible approach to impose a strict Russian energy import ban, sever normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, & unleash American energy to change the balance of power, I voted ‘no’ on the subsequent so-called Russian oil ban bill," Roy posted to Twitter on March 10. "It is designed purposefully to depress American oil & gas production, will likely empower adversaries in Iran and Venezuela, is filled with loopholes, & cedes power to the Exec. branch to easily waive its provisions"
"As we provide lethal aid to help Ukrainians fight, we must at all times remember to protect Americans — including full expansion of reliable American energy, both nuclear and fossil fuels," Roy continued in the thread. "Now is the time for Republicans to actually stand up and lead, not just check the box in the name of 'unity.' American-made energy fuels freedom, prosperity, and peace; we say we believe that, and it's time we start acting like it."
