Kelly votes to suspend Russian oil imports to the U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) joined 413 House colleagues by voting to suspend Russian oil imports to the United States in a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The bill would prohibit imports of oil and gas from Russia within 45 days of enactment unless the President decides to waive these prohibitions based on changes and circumstances. It would also reauthorize and expand the Global Magnitsky Act.

"The U.S. should not be bankrolling Vladimir Putin and the Russian war machine," Kelly said. "By banning Russian oil and gas imports to the United States, we are ramping up pressure on the Biden administration to allow for increased oil and gas drilling, decreasing our dependence on energy from bad actors like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran."

BACKGROUND
In 2021, under the Biden administration, the U.S. imported a record amount of Russian oil. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, “revenue from the (energy) sector is responsible for more than 40 percent of the (Russian) federal budget.” Further, Russian oil and refined oil products make up 8 percent of U.S. oil imports, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). The 8 percent of Russian oil we import equates to 672,000 barrels per day. That figure, together with the going rate of approximately $123 per barrel, means Russian companies and the Russian government together are making $82.6 million per day from the United States.

Rep. Kelly supports increased American oil and gas production and supports exploring further energy purchases from U.S. allies and neighbors, such as Canada and Mexico, to offset Russian oil imports and lower gasoline prices. The U.S. currently purchases more than 70% of its foreign oil imports from those two nations, according to the EIA.