Exxon Democrats support oil purchases

Exxon Democrats support oil purchases

WASHINGTON – Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Tx) and at least four other Democrats are calling for purchases into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as part of the next coronavirus stimulus, according to a report this evening. Although a $3 billion appropriation was originally included in the last stimulus bill, it was eliminated by Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats. A previous analysis from Friends of the Earth indicates that filling the SPR without Congressional approval is likely illegal.

Lukas Ross, senior policy analyst with Friends of the Earth, issued the following statement in response:

These Exxon Democrats are handing Trump another victory. Rep. Cuellar and his friends’ self-serving desire to pump more taxpayer money into Big Oil just cost Speaker Pelosi a lot of leverage.

The coronavirus is an unprecedented public health crisis, not an excuse to throw polluters a lifeline. If defending fossil fuels matters to these Democrats so much, they should consider changing their party affiliation.

Expert contact: Lukas Ross, (202) 222-0724, [email protected]
Communications contact: Erin Jensen, (202) 222-0722, [email protected]

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