Rodgers Statement on Biden's Plans to Ease Sanctions on Venezuela

Statement

Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement regarding reports that President Joe Biden plans to lift sanctions on Venezuela rather than encouraging more American oil and gas production.

"We are the world's leading producer of oil and gas, and our workers are eager to produce millions of additional barrels of oil per day to lower costs and ensure America's energy dominance. Instead, President Biden continues to turn to OPEC, Russia, Iran, China, and now Venezuela, who are all emboldened because he is shutting down American energy and ceding our global leadership to their corrupt regimes. Lifting sanctions to allow Venezuela's dictator to collect millions of dollars in revenues harkens back to President Biden's decision to waive sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which strengthened Putin and invited the attack on Ukraine.

"We have abundant resources in America to be energy independent, secure, and to protect people quality of life. It is baffling that President Biden is making deliberate choices for America to follow Europe's dependency on foreign regimes like Russia for energy. People are being forced to ration, pay record-high prices, and prepare for a harsh winter of life-threatening energy shortages. This cannot become America's future.

"Turning to Venezuela or any other dictator is not acceptable to freedom-loving Americans who are suffering already under Biden's energy and spending crises that are increasing their cost of living. It's time for the President of the United States to show some leadership, and get serious about flipping the switch for more American energy production."

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