Upton Says "Nyet' to Russian Oil

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, cosponsored the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act. This bicameral legislation is led by Senator Liz Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). Rep. Upton is an original cosponsor of this legislation that will be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 8, 2022.

"We are all seeing the pictures of the atrocities Russia continues to inflict on the Ukrainian people. Even children are not escaping Russia's wrath. We need to stop fiddling while Ukraine burns and hit Putin where it hurts the most -- oil," said Rep. Upton. "No sanction is too extreme for me. I am physically sick over the actions of Russia and the pain they are inflicting on Ukraine and its people. I join our Problem Solvers Caucus in pleading with the White House to say "nyet' to Russian oil. Now."

The Ban Russian Energy Imports Act will declare a national emergency specifically with respect to the threat to our national security, foreign policy, and economy that exists as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine. The act directs President Biden to prohibit imports of crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, LNG, and coal from Russia. The powers to be used by the President in this bill have existed for over a century and do not permit expansion of executive powers.

Rep. Upton serves as the top Republican on the Energy Subcommittee and has supported a number of key legislative efforts to combat the Kremlin's energy monopoly that has enabled the country to ruthlessly invade Ukraine. Last year the U.S. bought nearly $20 billion worth of Russian oil and gas. In addition to several legislative efforts, Rep. Upton has written several letters to U.S. energy leaders, including the President, urging them to unleash American energy production:

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm
On March 2, 2022, Rep. Upton and Rep. Rogers (R-WA) sent a letter to Secretary Granholm urging the department to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline. The full letter can be read HERE.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Richard Glick
On March 2, 2022, Rep. Upton and Rep. Rogers (R-WA) wrote to the FERC urging the commission to support domestic LNG production facilities. The full letter can be read HERE
President Biden
Rep. Upton was joined by 82 of his Republican colleagues in a letter to the President on March 3rd, 2022, urging the President to abandon his anti-American energy agenda. The full letter can be read HERE.
Rep. Upton has travelled to Ukraine twice, once with GOP Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and again in 2015 as Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce leading a bipartisan delegation. On both of these occasions Rep. Upton went to Ukraine seeking out US support for defensive military equipment and to promote US energy LNG exports to our NATO allies to help offset the growing reliance on Russian LNG. Rep. Upton's support for the people of Ukraine remains unwavering and is committed to holding Russia accountable for these heinous and violent crimes committed under Putin's leadership.

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