Not-so strategic oil reserve

not-so stratgeic oil reserve

This week, the Biden Administration reversed it plans to purchase three million barrels of oil to begin refilling our strategic petroleum reserve (SPR). Congress established the SPR, which is a federally-owned stockpile of crude oil, to quickly respond to emergencies. For example, if a hurricane hit our district and caused a supply chain issue, the United States has oil on hand to save lives and begin the process of recovery.

The SPR is an important part of our national security because it ensures that we are not solely dependent on other nations, especially hostile foreign nations, for our energy needs in an emergency situation. Unfortunately, this president appears to view the SPR as a political tool instead of a national security one, which led to this week’s embarrassing reversal.

First, let’s talk about how we got here. Biden began depleting our SPR in 2021 in an attempt to temporarily lower gas prices. Many people, including me, criticized this decision for two primary reasons. First, it was a huge risk to our national security. Second, President Biden’s policies caused prices at pumps to skyrocket. If he wanted to bring those prices down, he needed to reverse his bad policies, a move that would have led to lower prices and economic growth nationwide.

Unfortunately, Biden ignored these concerns and depleted our SPR to the lowest levels since the 1980s. At the start of 2022, we had 600 million barrels in reserves. Now, we are down to 363 million, and gas prices are once again on the rise. This means that Americans are paying more for gas and the federal government can no longer afford to replenish our SPR. Fiscal responsibility is important. I agree that it may not be a good financial decision for the Department of Energy to spend more than $85 a barrel to replenish the SPR, but we should have never been in this position in the first place.

At his best, Biden made a poor decision in depleting our reserve. At his worst, he did it to score political points by attempting to temporarily lower gas prices, at the expense of our entire nation’s wellbeing.

That is why it is important that we look at how we make decisions about using the SPR, so that we never end up in this situation again. Fortunately, the House has already sent a bill to the Senate that will do exactly that.

The Strategic Production Response Act, which passed in January 2023 in a bipartisan vote, will limit the president’s ability to use our SPR for anything other than an emergency. This is a common-sense bill that will restore the original intent of the SPR and make our entire nation safer. It’s time for the Senate to pass this critical bill.

Buddy's Briefing

In this week's edition of Buddy's Briefing, we are discussing the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit that I had the honor of speaking at this week in Atlanta.

From our nation's capitol cdliii

Monday, April 1, 2024: Yesterday, I had a live interview on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures to discuss the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore after being hit by a container ship and the Biden Administration’s “rush to green” agenda. This morning, I have a virtual call with the Congressional Excellence Program’s Executive Director, Mark Sobol, to review last weeks staff retreat before heading to the airport for a flight to Atlanta. Once in Georgia’s Capital City, I head to the campus of Georgia Tech University where I spend the afternoon touring one of America’s great research institutions. After meeting with my good friend, President Angel Cabrera in his office, we head to the John Lewis Student Center on campus where we have an overview of the battery research that is taking place here. Next, we head to the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering for a tour of their Advanced Battery research labs. Afterwards, we head to the Ford Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) building to learn about the important work they are doing with critical mineral research. Our final visit is at the Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility where we see the great work being done here and around the state by the Georgia AI in Manufacturing (Georgia AIM) program. As the newly appointed Chair of the Energy and Commerce (E&C) Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials Subcommittee, seeing first-hand the work being done at this great research facility is very important. After a great visit, I head to the Georgia World Congress Center where I meet with other participants of the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit including National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director, Dr. Nora Volkow, University of Kentucky President, Dr. Eli Capilouto, National Institute of Health (NIH) Director Monica Bertagnoli, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Administrator Robert Coliff, and Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Anne Milgram. Started in 2012 by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (KY-5) and Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education, Inc), the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit is the largest national gathering of professionals from local, state, and federal agencies, business, academia, treatment providers and allied communities impacted by prescription drug and illicit drug use. It is now the largest annual gathering for stakeholders to discuss what’s working in prevention and treatment.

Rep. Carter visits Georgia Tech

Tuesday, April 2, 2024: I’m up early and live on Fox Business on Mornings with Maria this morning as we discuss House leadership, Ukraine funding, the southwest border and the Biden Administration’s ban on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Later in the morning, I am honored to be one of the keynote speakers at the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit as I share with the hundreds of participants my work in Congress to address drug abuse and fentanyl poisoning. Among the legislation that I have introduced this past year is the Saving Lives in our Schools Act that will require the fentanyl reversing drug Naloxone be placed in every school in America, and Sammy’s Law that will allow parents to protect children by using third-party safety software. We were also successful this year in convincing the FDA to reclassify Naloxone to an over-the-counter designation so that it can be bought without a prescription. Next, I meet with Stage Analytics CEO Rob Rayl to learn more about their work providing scientific solutions to advance health care. Afterwards, I meet with Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to discuss policy issues. During my drive back to the airport for my return flight home, I join in on our all staff conference call

Rep. Carter joins Mornings with Maria

Wednesday, April 3, 2024: I’m in Brunswick in Glynn County this morning as I visit Tidewater Equipment Company’s Local Heavy Equipment Dealer for a tour of their facility and a meeting with their staff and some of their customers, including my good friends Hugh Thompson, President of Pierce Timber, and Chad Nimmer with Suwannee Forest Products. Tidewater Equipment has over 20 locations throughout the southeast and is a supplier of heavy equipment used in the timber industry. This was a great opportunity for me to hear first-hand from these ‘boots on the ground’ about the timber business and the challenges they are facing. Afterwards, I have a call with stakeholders for an update on the mining application pending near the Okefenokee Swamp before having a meeting with a constituent on St. Simons Island to hear more about his work with Downtown Brunswick renovation projects. Next, I have a live interview on Fox Business’s Big Money Show to discuss the Biden Administrations “rush to green” push to mandate EV’s and the southwest border disaster. Afterwards, I join in on a scheduling staff call followed by a district staff call. Next, I have a virtual call with my good friend Sean Register from Bryan County and a group of concerned citizens from Arizona to discuss planned mining and processing work in their area. Later in the afternoon, I have a live interview on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss the failed health care policies of the Biden Administration.

Rep. Carter visits Tidewater Equipment

Thursday, April 4, 2024: I’m in our Brunswick office first thing this morning as I record this week’s edition of Buddy’s Briefing and Material Minute before heading to downtown Savannah where I have a tour of the Old Savannah City Mission founded and run by Pastor Larry McDaniel along with Development Director Keith Picklesimer. This great ministry is a residential recovery program that helps set people free from addiction and homelessness by seeing individuals as a person of worth and dignity and worthy of assistance in their journey. After a great visit, I enjoy meeting with my good friend Stan Allen downtown before heading to the Georgia State Railroad Museum on Louisville Road where I visit the tricentennial park group of museums- Savannah History Museum, Georgia State Railroad Museum, and Savannah Children’s Museum. After giving us a brief overview of the Coastal Heritage Society museums mission, Nora Fleming Lee, CEO of the Society, along with her great staff and some of her dedicated board members, lead us on a tour of the facilities and share with us their fantastic plans for an expansion of the Savannah Children’s Museum. Next, I head to the Chatham Narcotics Team (CNT) headquarters and lab on Ross Road for a tour of the facility by CNT Director Michael Sarhatt and a presentation by TACKL Health personnel explaining their Addiction Genetic Testing program. This is cutting edge technology that could potentially be a game changer in our fight against drug abuse. Afterwards, I have a phone interview with E&E news to discuss EV’s and our subcommittees work in the near future. Next, I head to Glenville in Tattnall County for Wayne Dasher’s annual law enforcement appreciation supper. For over 30 years, law enforcement personnel from across the state has been coming to Tattnall County where elected officials, businesses and citizens thank them for their work.

Rep. Carter meets with TACKL Health

Friday, April 5, 2024: I’m at the airport bright and early this morning as I travel to San Diego, CA, for the annual meeting of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC) and enjoy bringing them up to date on legislation impacting their profession later in the evening.

Rep. Carter pays tribute to Kevin "Catfish" Jackson