Sens. Scott, Cruz, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Sale of Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and other Senate Republicans in introducing the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act. This bill would prohibit the sale of American crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to any company under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and prohibit the export of any crude oil from the SPR to China.  

“President Biden seems intent on using his time in the Oval Office to rack up diplomatic and security blunders left and right. Sending oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party weakens our national security while strengthening that of our adversaries,” said Senator Scott. “This legislation takes the necessary steps to prevent the president from undermining our energy security and provides reassurance to the American people.” 

“The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was intended to ensure that America had sufficient oil reserves in the event of an emergency. Instead, Joe Biden sold a portion of this critical national security asset to the Chinese Communist Party when the CCP was stockpiling oil for its own strategic use, and while Americans are paying higher and higher prices for fuel because of the Biden administration’s disastrous energy policies. We need to immediately act to stop this from happening in the future and unleash American energy,” said Senator Cruz.

Joining Senators Scott and Cruz in introducing this legislation are Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed similar legislation by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 331-97, with 113 House Democrats voting in support of the bill.

Read the legislation here.