Last week, I sent a letter to President Biden expressing deep concern over the depletion of America’s emergency energy reserve, or the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and urged him to support more domestic energy production.
The SPR is the world’s largest stockpile of emergency crude oil with the capacity to store 714 million barrels.
The SPR has protected America from major supply disruptions and served as a vital windfall in the event of natural disasters and wars since its creation following the 1973 energy crises, but it was never intended to compensate for domestic policy shortcomings.
It is meant to be used as a last resort in emergency situations, not a band-aid solution for President Biden’s administration’s anti-Made in America energy policies on the eve of midterm elections.
Manipulating energy reserves in an effort to bring gas prices down from historic highs is not an accomplishment, it is a national security risk.
As your voice in the United States Senate, I will continue my push to unleash American energy and bolster our national security.
Sincerely,
Senator Steve Daines
