Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, by a vote of 221-205. H.R. 21 will prevent further abuse of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The bill requires any future non-emergency drawdowns to be accompanied by a plan from the Secretary of Energy to replace the drawdowns with an increase in domestic petroleum production.

"President Biden's reckless depletion of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve to cover up his anti-American energy agenda is deplorable," said Rep. Weber. "Releasing oil from the SPR for an election-year ploy to lower gas prices is not the solution to Americans' energy crisis, and this bill will prevent further abuse. This issue is personal to my Gulf Coast district since we house almost 60% of America’s SPR, and I will continue to ensure that our SPR is used for STRATEGIC purposes. President Biden is singlehandedly responsible for our energy crisis, and that is why House Republicans are taking important steps to hold him accountable. I am proud to see this bill pass Congress."

Additionally, the bill would amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require that—except for a severe energy supply interruption—the Secretary of Energy cannot drawdown petroleum products in the SPR until the Secretary has developed a plan to increase the percentage of federal lands (under the jurisdiction of other federal departments) that are leased for oil and gas production by the same percentage as the percentage of petroleum in the SPR that would be drawn down. The bill provides that this plan cannot call for a total increase in the percentage of federal lands leased for oil and gas of more than 15 percent. The bill would require the Secretary of Energy, in developing this plan, to consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Defense.