This week, President Joe Biden announced that the United States would ease sanctions on energy produced in Venezuela. House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) released the following statement in response:

“In a direct insult to American families facing years of record high energy prices, the Biden administration has chosen to support foreign oil production just days after strangling American production by releasing the worst offshore energy plan in history. It’s unfathomable that this administration has chosen to support foreign state owned oil companies over creating American jobs and developing the rich energy reserves in our own country. Time and time again, Joe Biden has led our nation down a path of dependency on nations controlled by dictators and despots. America produces energy cleaner and safer than anywhere else in the world, and this domestic production supports our national security and energy independence. President Biden must support American jobs and American energy over state-owned Venezuelan oil companies.”

Background

Under former President Donald Trump, the U.S. placed significant sanctions on the Venezuelan energy sector in response to the country's human rights record and corruption. However, this week, Biden announced the rollback of a substantial portion of these sanctions that will allow Venezuela to trade and participate in global energy markets. 

This decision also follows the publication of Biden's five-year offshore leasing plan, which was nearly 500 days late and included only three new lease sales. This decision to support the production of energy in foreign countries while shutting down production in the Gulf of Mexico leaves American workers behind and puts our energy security at risk.

Throughout the 118th Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources has worked to support American energy independence through the passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. The committee has held field hearings and advanced other pieces of legislation to remove regulatory burdens and conduct oversight of the Biden administration's policies. Last month, the committee also considered the BRIDGE Production Act, which would mandate four offshore oil and gas sales to be held in 2024 and 2025 and helps reduce regulatory burdens and delays to American energy production caused by the Biden administration.