Not only did Democrats delay taking action to hold Putin accountable for his genocide in Ukraine, but their attacks on traditional, Made-in-America energy worsened gas price crisis Americans now face, writes Rep. Brad Wenstrup in an op-ed for the Washington Examiner. 

“Democratic policies reduced our energy independence, empowered Russia, and made both the U.S. and Europe more vulnerable.”

CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed.

Key Excerpts:

• “Democrats and the Biden administration have been complicit in the foreign policy failures they are now running away from. Their decision to shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have provided the United States with 800,000 barrels of oil per day, hurt our domestic oil production.” 
• “Their choice to supplement that shortfall with Russian oil, coupled with President Joe Biden’s decision to remove U.S. sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, were both obviously bad choices at the time — and they have since helped fund Putin’s war to the tune of billions of dollars.”
• “Democratic policies reduced our energy independence, empowered Russia, and made both the U.S. and Europe more vulnerable.”

Related:

READ: FACT CHECK: The Real Reason Behind High Energy Costs

READ: ONE PAGER: Despite Democratic Delays, Congress Acts to Hold Russia Accountable

Background: 

• On March 7, Members of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement suspending trade relations with Russia and Belarus, and banning Russian energy imports. 
• On March 9, upon the White House’s reluctant support for the energy ban, Ways and Means Republican Leader Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) opened debate on the House Floor in support of the ban on Russian energy imports, or roughly 60 percent of what the U.S. purchases from Russia. The bill passed 414-17.
• On March 9, Rep. Brady and Republican Leader of the Trade Subcommittee Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) were joined by all Ways and Means Republicans in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral bill suspending trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
• Soon after the House voted overwhelmingly to ban Russian energy imports, the White House announced its support to suspend trade relations with Russia. Reps. Brady and Smith urged Congress to act on their bipartisan, bicameral bill to suspend trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
• On March 16, Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed Congress. 
• On March 17, Rep. Brady and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced the “Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act,” which would address the rest of what the U.S. purchases from Russia. 
• On March 17, Rep. Brady opened debate on the House Floor in support of revoking trade relations with Russia and Belarus. The bill passed 424-8.