The House Energy and Commerce Committee is set to consider a series of GOP measures Wednesday that would force the Biden administration to share information about its energy policymaking process.
In July, committee Republicans filed dozens of “resolutions of inquiry” (ROI) addressing a series of topics related to the panel’s purview which, according to House rules, Democratic leadership is required to consider within 14 legislative days. [bold, links added]
Among the ROIs GOP members have introduced, four are related to the Biden administration’s approach to energy and climate issues.
“Democrats will need to make a choice between getting answers on behalf of the American people or keep stonewalling to protect President Biden’s radical agenda and abuses of power,” a GOP aide told FOX Business.
ROIs, if approved, enable the House to forcefully obtain factual information and documentation from the White House. While the little-known legislative tool has been around since the early 1800s, Democrats had suspended ROIs until July.
Among the Republicans’ energy ROIs, Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., filed one requesting documentation related to the Biden administration’s use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve “for political purposes.”
“The Biden administration’s decision to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was a political gimmick that did nothing to lower gas prices,” Armstrong said in a statement after filing the ROI.
“The refining capacity doesn’t exist for that oil to be quickly converted into gasoline. And since we are depleting our strategic reserves, they will need to be refilled with oil that is selling at a higher price, costing taxpayers even more money,” he added.
Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind., introduced a separate ROI requesting documentation related to actions taken by the Biden administration impacting the U.S. power grid.
Reps. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., filed the other two ROIs that request documentation regarding the White House’s internal discussions about declaring a national climate emergency and its response to rising energy prices, respectively.
Duncan’s measure would include documents related to the administration’s green energy push, its decision to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for the domestic energy crunch, and communications about a potential crude oil export ban.
“We believe in unleashing American energy production by utilizing our nation’s vast natural resources and innovation, refusing to pick the winners and losers when it comes to energy production,” Duncan said in July.
“Unleashing an all-of-the-above energy strategy will inevitably lower energy costs for Americans and strengthen our energy economy.”
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will debate the ROIs during a markup hearing Wednesday.
Read more at Fox Business
While these may be good initiatives, these “ROI’s” are going nowhere with Democcratic control of the House. Put them on the shelf & start focusing on honing in your messaging for the mid-terms. I am an independent, so I’m not “cheerleading” for the GOP. All I know is ongoing Democratic policy on inflation, energy, climate, crime, immigration & education are all WAY OFF course. Recent polls substantiate this. My understanding is the Republicans will come out with an agenda on Friday to move our country forward. Don’t BLOW IT! The voters can’t be distracted with Trump’s antics, abortion misdirection & phony voter suppression. Hit the “kitchen table” issues hard & offer constructive policies & SOLUTIONS. This may end up being one of the most important mid-term elections in U.S history. We can’t afford to dig this progressive “hole” any deeper..
“… will need to be refilled with oil that is selling at a higher price …”
What’s the bet that there will be a special “windfall profit tax” on any profit the oil producers might make.
Guaranteed that the strategic oil reserves won’t be replaced until after the November election.
Another smoke screen to make it appear as if the repubs are actually doing something against the leftists. The petroleum reserve is not the issue since it is only a few weeks or a month at most of reserves. The entire destruction of the oil and gas infrastructure needs to be addressed.
Agree Tom. On this subject, Biden is behaving like an “enemy of the state” because of the not-so-ovbious damage his anti US oil & gas is having and that damage needs to be exposed to Americans.
To spell this out clearly: we need to know why our oil companies won’t build new refineries?
Their answers will reveal that they cannot obtain sufficient crude and, more importantly, develdopment approvals to do so. These (development) restrictions are being imposed by the Biden administration while the MSM isn’t doint its job by informing the public about it.
I would not be surprised if this is part of their plan to promote the sale of BEV’s. IE: make ICE vehicles seem more expensive (restricted gas/diesel supplies push prices up) while on the other side – finding BEV recharging stations are like finding a needle in a hay stack.
Government has no place in any market – deciding what consumers buy and use. That is socialism.
It will be critical for tht GOP to do whatever it can post the mid-terms to take government’s foot of the throat of the oil co’s ,.