Graves Statement on the Biden Administration Invoking DPA to Spur Critical Minerals Production and Releasing

Statement

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana) released the following statement today after President Biden announced that he is releasing additional emergency oil reserves and invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ramp up the mining and processing of critical minerals used in renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Under the Biden Administration:

Importing approximately 200,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Russia
Importing an additional 472,000 barrels of other Russian petroleum products daily
Announced the release of 260,000,000 barrels of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves
Stopped or prevented the production of American critical minerals
"Within the last four months, President Biden has announced the release of 260,000,000 barrels of oil from our emergency reserves. The United States was importing approximately 200,000 barrels of oil and an additional 472,000 in petroleum products from Russia each day. This is the only Administration in modern history that has blocked new American energy production and blocked the production of American critical minerals required for renewable energy.

"The president is now using the Defense Production Act (DPA) to mine and process critical minerals for renewable energy sources. The DPA was designed for national defense, disaster response or recovery from a terrorist attack.

"Do the math. The two actions this week, once again, confirm previous concerns. The Biden Administration is using oil reserves and national defense statutes to mitigate for their flawed energy policies. In about 10 months, they are releasing more crude oil reserves than we would have imported from Russia in years. They employ the DPA to mine minerals they blocked just months ago.

"The only thing I agree with here is that the Biden Administration's energy policies could be described as a disaster or domestic terrorism as the DPA intends. I just never thought we would have to tap emergency oil reserves or defense statutes to protect us from our own federal agencies.

"We need a comprehensive energy strategy based on America's vast resources."

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