House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA-04) released the following statement after House Democrats asked President Obama to release portions of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR):

“Americans are feeling the pain at the pump as gasoline prices climb towards four dollars a gallon. Tapping the SPR may provide some temporary relief but we must consider America’s long-term energy security. For two years, the Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats have fought nearly every attempt to insulate America from unstable OPEC countries by opposing job-creating American energy development. The SPR is specifically for situations when there is a dramatic supply shutdown or shortfall of oil on the world market. Short-term releases of oil from our strategic reserves does not replace the 300,000 barrels a day this Administration has squandered due to inaction on offshore drilling permits, nor will it put the thousands of people in the Gulf back to work. We can protect against future price spikes, spur our economy and create good paying jobs by moving now to develop untapped reserves in the Gulf, Alaska, the OCS and our public lands.”

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