(UnitedVoice.com) – When President Joe Biden took office, he rolled back many of former President Donald Trump’s energy initiatives. Trump increased oil leases, opened up other areas in the US to oil exploration and had a goal of making America energy independent. Although America is still the world’s largest oil and natural gas producer, it isn’t enough. A year after Biden’s ill-fated decisions, two Democratic senators are joining Republicans to reverse those policies.
On Tuesday, March 8, Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) called on the president to allow increased domestic production of gas. CNN’s Manu Raju approached the senators on Capitol Hill to ask them about the administration considering Venezuela and Iran as an alternative to Russia for fuel. Manchin said the country should go back to its previous policies and get the areas that have been off-target back into production.
Tester said the US should not be considering deals with “countries who don’t share our values.” He explained he believes Americans should be making more gas at home and it could create jobs and help Europe out.
Tester, Dem from Montana, on talk of importing Venezuelan and Iranian energy to offset Russian ban: "We shouldn't be advancing other countries who don't share our values."
Manchin: "If we are asking the rest of the world to step up, let's show that we're going to step up." pic.twitter.com/KHYeNYqoGF
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 8, 2022
The lawmakers’ comments come as gas soars close to $4.50 per gallon in many places across the US. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine has made the energy crisis that has been raging for about a year much worse. Biden is going to need to decide what’s more important: attacking energy companies or helping the American people survive.
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