Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has recently called for the Biden administration to reinvigorate American energy, specifically via the Defense Product Act, in order to enhance oil production amid a massive international crisis and sky high gasoline prices.
Manchin made his remarks on Thursday, well after the invasion of Ukraine and shortly after the Biden administration’s kowtowing to Iran and Venezuela in an effort to obtain oil quickly and cheaply.
During a Senate Energy Committee hearing, Manchin observed that the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline constitutes “the quickest thing that we can get,” especially since this pipeline represents “more energy into the market that’s going to be needed.”
“[I have] been preaching to the heavens for a long time on this one,” Manchin continued, adding that his vision could be achieved via the Defense Production Act.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration signed off on an executive order that allegedly bans the importation of Russian natural gas and Russian oil, which serves as retaliation for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The executive order is widely anticipated to elevate American prices, further justifying Manchin’s call to action.
“[This executive order] is a step that we’re taking to inflict further pain on Putin,” Biden boomed, “but there will be costs as well here in the United States.”
According to data from the United States Energy Information Administration, approximately 8 percent of American oil imports originated from Russia in the past year.
“What we do know is that Russia has weaponized energy,” Manchin added, specifically by “[using] it as a geopolitical weapon.”
“[What I know about a] bully is if they have a weapon, you better have one that will match it or be better than theirs,” Manchin continued, “and we do, we just haven’t used it,” in reference to the Emergency Defense Production Act.
The Biden administration has already invoked the Defense Production Act in recent times, albeit Biden chose to utilize the act over COVID, rather than international warfare.
