Congress Should Not Tamper with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Publication Date: May 2008

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Ariel Cohen

Research Area: Energy

Keywords: Energy and environment; strategic petroleum reserve; oil dependence; oil imports

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Congress is about to legislate that the U.S. government stop purchasing oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Some believe that this would bring gasoline prices down; in reality, however, shutting down the oil supply to the SPR would jeopardize the security of the United States, and infringe upon the executive authority of the President to ensure the nation's defense, while having no appreciate effect on gas prices. Congress should leave the SPR alone.