Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) today issued the following statement in opposition to the Administration's announcement that they will release 30 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR):

"The President's sudden decision to release oil from the SPR fails to address our real problem – his own energy policies. The 30 million barrels the President wants to take from our emergency reserves is the same amount of oil America could produce in just one month from Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf if only the EPA would stop blocking exploration.We could dramatically exceed that production if the President would approve a proposed pipeline from our ally Canada, which could bring an additional 1.3 million barrels per day to the US.

"This decision looks like a politically motivated move to avoid implementing a sound energy policy that will reduce our dependence on Middle East oil. Tapping the SPR simply to manipulate oil prices defeats the purpose of the reserve.  We also need to know, what is the President’s plan to refill SPR?

"America must have the ability to access our own resources to provide a stable and affordable supply of energy. Our nation's heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil places our national security at risk and ensures unreliable supplies and costs for that oil.  The best solution to this problem is for the President to start supporting development of America’s vast resources.  This will increase supply, lower costs and create thousands of good paying jobs."

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