"It would appear Secretary Granholm meant it when she said America should 'learn' from what China is doing."

Washington, D.C. — House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement after reports that Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm had multiple conversations with the Chinese Communist Party's top energy official days before the Biden administration announced it would tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in 2021.

“Before telling the American people of their plans to undermine our energy security by draining the SPR at record rates for political purposes before the midterm elections, Secretary Granholm reportedly first secretly consulted with the Chinese Communist Party. Since then, DOE—under her leadership—has sold millions of barrels of oil from our SPR to China—the world’s biggest polluter. It would appear Secretary Granholm meant it when she said America should 'learn' from what China is doing.

“The Energy and Commerce Committee will be demanding answers and full transparency from the Secretary. In addition, this raises the urgency for the Senate to pass H.R. 22, the Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, as soon as possible. We cannot allow the Biden administration to further jeopardize our energy and national security, especially now that we know more about the lengths it will go to achieve its pro-China climate agenda.”

BACKGROUND:

• In June 2022, E&C Republican Leaders demanded answers from Secretary Granholm on her management of the SPR and how China is taking advantage of the Biden administration’s use of our strategic fuel reserves.
• In November 2022, Chair Rodgers and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Republican Leader John Barrasso (R-WY) sent a letter to Secretary Granholm raising concerns about potential damage to the SPR due to President Biden’s unprecedented drawdowns and DOE’s mismanagement of the national security asset.
• In January 2023, the House passed H.R 22, the Protecting American’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act, led by Chair Rodgers, by a bipartisan vote 331-97. The bill protects our energy security by prohibiting the Biden administration from selling any products from the SPR to China, or any entity that intends to export the products to China.
• In January 2023, the House passed H.R. 21, the Strategic Production Response Act, which would help ensure the SPR is available during a true energy emergency and not abused for non-emergency, political purposes.
• In March 2023, Energy and Commerce Republicans called on Secretary Grandholm to testify immediately following her public comments praising China.
• In May 2023, House and Senate Republican energy leaders requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluate DOE’s mismanagement of the SPR, which has increased our reliance on foreign energy sources.