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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Gas prices surge as Biden targets U.S. oil production
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As summer draws to a close, Mississippians are feeling more pain at the pump
with gas prices continuing to soar. After starting the year near $2 per gallon,
gas in Mississippi has now reached an average of $2.78. The same pattern is
occurring across the country, with national gas prices surging by 40 percent
this year alone. This additional cost is impacting hardworking American
families who are recovering from the pandemic and depend on their cars and
trucks to access work and daily necessities.

 

These rising gas prices are a direct result of President Biden’s energy
agenda. Since taking office, Mr. Biden has systematically dismantled President
Trump’s policies that helped the U.S. become energy independent. In his first
week, President Biden killed the Keystone XL Pipeline project, which would have
brought oil to American refineries and supported up to 11,000 jobs. Later, he
cut off expansion of a tremendous source of American oil and natural gas by
suspending new drilling leases on federal lands and waters. He also rejoined
the Paris Climate Agreement, which will kill energy jobs while doing little to
protect the environment.

 

Democrats in Congress have plans to escalate this assault on American energy.
Their massive tax-and-spending proposal would include “Green New Deal” style
tax hikes and other restrictions on traditional energy sources, which would
likely result in higher energy costs for American households.

 

These decisions will have lasting consequences for our energy producers, the
jobs the industry supports, and all American families that depend on
traditional power sources.

 

Biden Wants Foreign Oil, Not American Oil

 

Even as President Biden cracks down on American production, he is actively
encouraging our foreign competitors to boost their own oil output. Earlier this
month, in response to rising gas prices, the President went hat in hand to
OPEC+, a revamped cartel of oil-producing nations that now includes Russia and
Venezuela. Mr. Biden is asking that they step up their own oil production to
lower gas prices in the U.S.

 

It is absurd that American consumers should be at the mercy of a group like
OPEC+. Before President Biden took office, the United States had become the
world’s largest oil producer thanks to groundbreaking new drilling
technologies, such as fracking. In 2019, for the first time since 1973, we
exported more petroleum than we imported. This tremendous feat helped to
insulate America from supply shortages abroad and protect against disruptive
swings in oil prices. Now, President Biden has surrendered this advantage and
made us more dependent on foreign countries for energy.

 

Republicans Fight to Protect U.S. Energy

 

Republicans are taking every step we can to protect America’s energy security.
Recently, I joined 23 senators in urging the President to reverse his request
to OPEC+ for more oil. The United States should not be begging foreign
countries for energy when we have enough resources to meet the need. I also
joined a letter asking the Biden Administration to lighten the burden of the
Renewable Fuel Standard, a regulation that threatens the future of many
refineries in America.

 

Republicans were also successful in passing a pro-energy amendment to the
Democrats’ budget proposal. The amendment, sponsored by Senator Kevin Cramer of
North Dakota, would prevent the Biden Administration from banning fracking,
which has helped us achieve energy independence and lower gas prices.
Republicans will continue to make every effort to mitigate the worst of
President Biden’s anti-American energy agenda.

 

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Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

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