CONGRESSMAN BISHOP VOTES TO BAN STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE OIL SALES TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
January 12, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) supported H.R. 22, the Protecting America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, which would prohibit the sale of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to the People's Republic of China, or any entity that is under ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party. The U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill by a bipartisan vote of 331-97. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
"Congress is acting today to clamp down on the sale of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve so that America's strategic resources do not end up in the hands of our adversaries," said Congressman Bishop.
The SPR is an emergency stockpile of crude oil that is available to manage supply disruptions. It was created in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo caused major oil shortages. Current law prohibits the federal government from directing where companies export oil they purchase from the SPR.
Under the previous administration, U.S. exports of crude oil to China increased nearly one-hundred-fold.
Congressman Bishop is also an original cosponsor of H.R. 293, a bipartisan bill introduced this week by Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and Don Bacon (NE-02) to more broadly prohibit the export or sale of petroleum products from the SPR to China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and any country under sanction by the United States, as well as any entity owned, operated, or influenced by those countries.
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Issues:Foreign Affairs