Grassley, Colleagues Push To Ban Russian Oil Imports

Press Release

Today, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Sen. Roger Marshal (R-Kan.) in introducing legislation to ban purchases of Russian oil. The legislation comes ahead of President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address and in response to Russia's unjustifiable war against the sovereign nation of Ukraine.

"As Putin continues bombing Ukraine and murdering innocent civilians, there is no reason we should be supporting any sector of Russia's economy. We must immediately halt all imports of Russian oil, and instead return to being energy independent by undoing President Biden's harmful energy policies," Grassley said.

"First and foremost, President Biden needs to restart America's energy production and quit financing Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine by continuing to purchase crude oil from Russia. Under the previous Administration, our nation was energy independent but President Biden reversed course and turned hostile nations like Russia into America's gas station," said Marshall. "Make no mistake, if President Biden fails to act, we will continue to work in Congress to hold Vladimir Putin accountable."

Energy Committee ranking member Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) are also cosponsors of the legislation.

In 2021, the U.S. imported nearly 700,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia. This proposal would swiftly move to stop financing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and remove Russian fuels from American supply chains. The prohibition would take effect 15 days after enactment and would exclude shipments that are already in transit at that time. Just yesterday, Canada announced it banned imports of crude oil from Russia.

Grassley helped introduce the American Energy Independence Act of 2022, which seeks to reverse Biden's shutdown of the American energy sector and return American energy to full production. He has also called on Russia to be removed from the United Nations Security Council, and he urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to block Russian access to any additional financing through the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

To view the full text of the legislation, click HERE.

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