Ernst on Decision to Ban Russian Oil

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, reacted today after President Biden announced his decision to ban imports of oil and natural gas from Russia.

“On his first day in office, President Biden took executive action to reduce American energy production and increase our reliance on foreign adversaries, including Russia. His administration has since prioritized Left-wing climate priorities like electric vehicles over Iowa biofuel—a readily available choice at the pump for consumers. As a result, our country has gone from an exporter of energy to a consumer of Russian oil—padding the pockets of Putin and his cronies as they slaughter innocent civilians and attack Ukraine’s freedom. The president made the right decision today to end purchasing of Russia’s bloody oil, but now he must take immediate, decisive action to unleash the American energy sector to protect both our national security and consumers at the pump,” said Senator Ernst.

 

Background:

Senator Ernst has continued to call on President Biden to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and unleash American energy. Last month, Ernst supported the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act (ESCAPE Act) to supplement European energy needs with American liquid natural gas, removing a lever of Russian influence.

 

At last week’s Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) hearing, Ernst pressed Transportation Secretary Buttigieg about the Biden administration’s concerning agenda in prioritizing electric vehicles (EV) over clean renewable fuels, stressing that their plan “will only make us more dependent on those foreign adversaries” who control the key raw materials used to produce them.