No letup from Oklahoma Congressman Markwayne Mullin and his criticism of President Biden over his anti-oil-and-gas programs.
In his latest “Mullin It Over” column to constituents under the title of “The Cost of President Biden’s Anti-American Agenda,” the Republican Representative said Biden’s blaming of record-high gas prices on the crisis in Ukraine is “a far cry from the truth.”
“President Biden’s assault on American energy has caused this spike in prices,” declared Rep. Mullin.
On day one, President Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline and rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement. In the months since, he promoted Green New Deal policies, issued moratoriums on new oil and gas permits on federal lands, and imposed burdensome regulations that stifled American innovation and forced many producers to shut down. He begged our enemies in OPEC+ for more oil while spending billions on unsustainable, weather-dependent renewables. He backed our country into a corner.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. became a net energy exporter in 2019. This was the first time this was achieved since 1952. President Biden erased 67 years of progress in 13 months. Because President Biden made the United States reliant on other countries for our natural gas, we are forced to import oil to keep up with supply and therefore have less control over the prices.
Last year, crude oil and petroleum imports from Russia reached an 11-year high, averaging 700,000 barrels per day. The United States paid Russia approximately $17.5 billion for petroleum imports alone. The tragedy in Ukraine is not to blame for this, it’s merely exposing the root of the problem.
There are few places you can get to in the Second District without getting in your car to drive. In fact, 92 percent of Oklahomans use their vehicle to commute. Just this past weekend, it cost me $4.50 a gallon to fill up my truck. I know I am not the only one. There is no doubt Oklahomans are feeling this increase at the pump. Every single time we head to the store, drop our kids at school, or get to work, we are reminded of this.
Though President Biden finally banned the imports of Russian crude oil and petroleum, he did not announce the amplification of American oil and gas. This is the only way our country can become truly energy independent. Any ban is incomplete without this step. Instead, his Administration has been in talks with Venezuelan President Maduro, Putin’s ally, about using their supply.
Further, the Biden Administration recently announced the release of 30 million barrels worth of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This is our country’s emergency supply. When times are tough, you turn to what is reliable and proven to work. Clearly, for President Biden, that’s American fossil fuels.
There are immediate ways the Biden Administration can reverse their anti-American energy agenda and lower prices at the pump. I joined Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04) in introducing the American Energy Independence from Russia Act to detail ways he can do this. Approving the Keystone XL pipeline, removing restrictions on liquified natural gas exports, and restarting oil and gas leasing on federal lands would be a great place to start.
In President Biden’s State of the Union address last week, he touted his “Made in America” and “Buy American” agenda. Now it’s time he includes American oil and gas.