On Friday, March 11th, 2022, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02) joined over a dozen House Republicans, led by Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-15), to introduce H.R. 7023, the Prohibiting Oil Trade with Venezuela’s Tyrant Act, which would require the president to prohibit the importation of all petroleum products originating from Venezuela.
“The United States should not be begging dictators around the world to increase their energy production while refusing to allow America to maximize our energy potential. Nicolas Maduro is a socialist dictator who has violated the human rights of his people countless times,” said Miller-Meeks. “I have said it countless times, we should IMMEDIATELY increase American energy production to support American consumers and our allies abroad. We should never put ourselves in a position to rely on dictatorships for our energy needs. We must put American workers, businesses, and consumers first, not last.”
“By engaging in talks with the Maduro regime, the Biden administration has again shown it is more interested in buying oil from ruthless dictatorships than supporting domestic production,” said Franklin. “Removing oil sanctions on Venezuela to offset purchasing from Russia would simply be replacing support for one dictator with another. My legislation would prevent the Biden administration from empowering the Maduro regime by blocking Venezuelan oil imports. The solution to America’s energy needs is to unleash our domestic oil market and buy American, not filling the coffers of brutal foreign dictators. Increasing American energy can also help cut off Russia’s energy cash flow and provide affordable, reliable energy to global allies. Maintaining these sanctions is one of our strongest diplomatic and strategic tools. President Biden’s consideration of removal of these sanctions jeopardizes the safety and economic security of America. This Administration must stop putting political expediency above national security and unleash the U.S. domestic energy market.”
To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE
