WASHINGTON—Representative Scott Franklin (FL-18) today voted in favor of the Strategic Production Response Act, which would prevent the president from tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for political purposes and require the Biden administration to create a plan to refill it.

The Biden administration tapped the SPR several times over the past two years ago in an apparent attempt to lower gas prices. Combined, these actions constitute the SPR’s largest drawdown ever. As a result, the SPR’s reserves are down 36 percent, the lowest level since 1984. The administration has yet to produce a legitimate plan to replenish the SPR, jeopardizing U.S. national security.

“The Biden administration must recognize the SPR doesn’t exist as a get out of jail free card for its bad energy policies,” said Rep. Franklin. “The Strategic Production Response Act will prevent our critical oil reserves from being used as a political pawn in the future and will hold the Biden administration accountable for putting our national security at risk. Florida knows all too well how important it is to have emergency resources available during a crisis. We won’t allow the welfare of Americans to be put at risk so President Biden can attempt to gloss over the impacts of his failed energy policies.”

The federal government created the SPR in response to the 1973 energy crisis to counter future oil supply disruptions resulting from natural disasters and national security events. Since its creation, the federal government has tapped the SPR during extreme scenarios, including Hurricane Katrina’s landfall and during the Gulf War.