House Introduces Ban Russian Energy Imports Act

Strategic Insights -

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) joined Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) to introduce the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, which aims to ban the United States from importing Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and coal. This legislation is the House companion to S. 3757, introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The bill is a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and aims to reduce the country's ability to fund its military actions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Ban Russian Energy Imports Act would prohibit the importation of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, LNG, and coal.
  • The bill is a response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and aims to reduce the country's ability to fund its military actions.
  • The legislation would declare a national emergency with respect to Russian aggression and immediately prohibit the importation of Russian energy products.
  • The ban would be in place during the national emergency and either the President or Congress would be able to terminate the emergency and the import ban.
  • The bill exempts product that is already loaded or in transit at the time of enactment.
  • The U.S. imported an average of 670,000 barrels of oil and petroleum products in 2021, with a high of 848,000 barrels per day in June 2021.
  • The U.S. has also imported Russian LNG and coal despite having some of the largest reserves domestically.
  • The bill is modeled on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and would not grant additional authority to the President.
  • Representative Miller-Meeks has called on President Biden to cancel all imports of Russian oil and ban future imports since Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
  • The legislation involves a bipartisan effort, with Senators Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski acting as co-sponsors.

Statistics:

  • 670,000: Average barrels of oil and petroleum products imported by the U.S. in 2021.
  • 848,000: Barrels of oil and petroleum products imported by the U.S. per day in June 2021.
  • 24%: Increase in imports of oil and petroleum products in 2021 compared to 2020.
  • 60%: Increase in the number of active rigs since the beginning of the Administration.
  • 18 straight weeks: Number of weeks existing wells have been coming back online.
  • 60 billion barrels: Amount of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve being utilized by the Administration to help reduce gas prices globally.
  • 0.5 million: Barrels of oil imported per day by the U.S. from Russia.

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives
  • Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02)
  • Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01)
  • Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05)
  • Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
  • S. 3757
  • H.R. 2046, the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act
  • The American Energy Independence from Russia Act
  • International Emergency Economic Powers Act