Today, March 9th, 2022, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) released the following statement after voting YES on H.R. 6968, the Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act:
“Today the House took a serious bipartisan step to hold Russia accountable for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Oil and natural gas are the heart of the Russian war machine and banning imports will likely weaken an already fragile economy. As I have said before, we should immediately unleash American energy production including biofuels, oil, natural gas, wind, hydro, and solar, and ensure that we can support the energy needs of our allies and ourselves for the long-term. I will continue to work with all of my colleagues to support American workers and businesses to secure our energy independence.”
Background:
The bipartisan Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act would aim to undermine Russia economically by barring all energy imports from Russia. The legislation would also require a formal review of Russia’s involvement in the World Trade Organization (WTO,) which could lead to Russia’s expulsion from the group. The bill would also reauthorize and bolster the Magnitsky Act, which enables the US government to sanction individuals and entities that have committed human rights violations by denying them entry into the country, freezing assets held by US financial institutions, and preventing Americans from engaging in business transactions with them.
For weeks, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has called upon the United States to ban the import of Russian oil and natural gas, promote American energy independence, and supported the people of Ukraine.
On January 25th, Miller-Meeks cosponsored H.R. 2046, the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act. This legislation would advance American energy exports to the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies and reduce their reliance on Russian energy.
On March 2nd, Miller-Meeks cosponsored H.R. 6858, the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, which would require President Biden to make an energy security plan within 30 days and take action to support America’s oil and natural gas production to offset Russian imports. This bill would also immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline, unleash U.S. liquid natural gas (LNG) exports to boost natural gas production, restart oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters, and protect energy and mineral development.
On March 8th, Miller-Meeks cosponsored H.R. 6919, the Prohibition on Imports of Russian Oil Act, which would immediately cease all U.S. imports of Russian oil and other petroleum-based energy products and hold Vladimir Putin’s regime accountable for its unprovoked and ruthless attack on Ukraine.
Also on March 8th, Miller-Meeks cosponsored the bipartisan H.R. 6951, the Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, which would ban the United States from importing Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, LNG, and coal.
The same day, Miller-Meeks joined the entire Iowa delegation in a letter urging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to prioritize American energy independence by promoting and incorporating Iowa-made ethanol and biofuels in an American energy strategy that significantly reduces reliance on foreign oil and gas imports.
Original source can be found here
