On the recordMarch 1, 2022
Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the need to immediately increase our domestic energy production to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine. For an energy-rich nation such as ours, it is unacceptable that our country has been increasingly reliant on Russia for oil. In recent months, we have imported nearly 600,000 barrels per day of Russian oil. At the same time, the Biden administration has worked systematically to shut down domestic U.S. oil and gas production. American oil and gas producers, including those in North Dakota, have proven that they have the capacity to produce more oil here at home. We had gotten to 1.5 million barrels of oil a day production; now, 1.1 million barrels a day. We can do more; other States can do more. We need to do it not only for our consumers here at home but to help our allies in Europe. Our economy, quality of life, and security depend on access to low- cost, dependable energy from all sources, both traditional and renewable. The Biden administration's hostile energy policies treat America's abundant oil, gas, and coal reserves differently, and they treat it as a liability. We are seeing the direct consequence of that approach, allowing investment and dollars to flow to energy producers like Russia, Iran, and other countries that leverage their own energy against our interests, with little or no regard for environmental stewardship; whereas, our environmental stewardship is the best in the world.…





