WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) released the following statement regarding the Administration’s decision to release 30 million barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR):
“Our Strategic Petroleum Reserve was created as a safeguard against emergencies and severe supply disruptions. The only severe supply disruption today is this Administration’s self-imposed shutdown of American energy.
“The White House has blocked offshore oil and gas production and made it more difficult to produce energy onshore. Oil production in the Gulf of Mexico is estimated to drop 20 percent in 2012 from 2010 levels. The Environmental Protection Agency is blocking offshore energy exploration in Alaska. Each day, we witness more examples of how this Administration is making our energy problems worse.
“In addition to opening up the SPR, the Administration also praised other countries today for their commitment to producing more oil – and encouraged other countries to follow suit. Instead of championing foreign energy and releasing oil from our emergency supply, the White House should free America’s energy producers from Washington’s red tape.”
Senator Barrasso is the only Republican member of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Environment and Public Works Committee.