Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) on March 3 unveiled a proposal that would ban the U.S. importation of Russian oil; a House version was introduced by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).
Manchin first called for an end to imports of Russian oil on March 1.
Upon taking office, Biden, citing an alleged “climate crisis,” overturned several Trump-era policies that had boosted the United States to energy independence for the first time in decades.
Most notably, Biden ended construction on the Keystone XL pipeline—which has been staunchly opposed by environmental groups since the administration of President Barack Obama—and placed a moratorium on the leasing of federal lands to oil and natural gas producers.
On March 3, Manchin, flanked by members from both chambers of Congress and both parties, renewed calls to increase U.S. oil production and to decrease its dependence on Russian oil. These two policies, he said, would help the United States to support its allies and further cripple the Russian economy.
“The United States has the ability to backfill and help all of our allies around the world as [Russia] uses energy as a weapon,” Manchin said.
“We [produce energy] cleaner than anybody else; we do it in a better fashion than anyone else.
“We have the ability with [U.S. oil] reserves to do much more during this crisis.”
Manchin’s bill has already won wide bipartisan and bicameral support.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a GOP swing-voter who has long worked with Manchin on various issues, said the bill is one that “can make a difference, can get Putin’s attention.”
Since the invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin and Russia have been the target of debilitating sanctions from most of the Western world, which include barring many major Russian banks from using the SWIFT payment system. These penalties have cut the value of the ruble almost in half.
The proposal, House co-sponsor Gottheimer noted, “would cut Putin off from his largest revenue source,” further isolating the Russian economy from the world.
As the domestically produced supply of oil has fallen, the United States has become more dependent on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia. In turn, the price of energy—particularly gasoline—has risen dramatically, far outstripping the rate of overall inflation.
If the United States banned Russian oil without an increase in domestic production, further limiting the supply of oil, consumers could see prices rise even further. Still, many Democrats—particularly left-wing progressives—remain staunchly opposed to increasing the U.S. extraction of fossil fuels, and would likely fight efforts to reverse the Biden administration’s energy policies.