WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14), a member of the Ukraine Caucus, announced he joined Congressman Buddy Carter (GA-01) in leading the effort to hold Russia accountable by supporting America First energy policies. Specifically, the two introduced the Ending Dependence on Russian Energy Act alongside five other lawmakers. This important legislation would prohibit the U.S. from importing oil and gas from Russia, direct the President to reduce restrictions on the exportation of oil and natural gas produced in the U.S., and authorize the Keystone XL pipeline under the Presidential Permit of March 29, 2019.

Russia is the second-largest exporter of crude oil in the world, trailing only Saudi Arabia. While the U.S. and other western nations have targeted Russia with sanctions in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, these sanctions have thus far exempted Russian oil and gas imports. 

“By continuing to purchase more than 400,000 barrels of oil every day from Russia, we are providing Putin with the resources to wage war on Ukraine and possibly other sovereign nations,” said Joyce. “I’m proud to help introduce this bill to immediately prohibit the importation of Russian oil and gas and increase American energy production. By doing so, our bill supports America’s commitment to stand behind the freedom-loving Ukrainian people and their valiant fight to protect their nation and push back against Putin’s unrelenting aggression.”

According to the Energy Information Administration, the United States imported an average of 20.4 million barrels of oil a month in 2021, increasing our reliance on Russian crude oil and petroleum products by about 24%. Using today’s crude oil pricing and assuming the U.S. is importing as much as 2021, this is the equivalent of sending Putin a check of at least $22 million more per day than under the previous administration. The U.S. has also imported Russian LNG and coal despite having some of the largest reserves domestically. These imports not only threaten America’s national security, but also support Vladimir Putin’s position of power amid his invasion of Ukraine. 

“We need real sanctions, not just some problems for Putin’s friends,” Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Goncharenco said last week. “We need an embargo on Russian gas and oil because every barrel of Russian oil and every cubic meter of Russian gas is now full of the blood of Ukrainians.”

###