EXCLUSIVE – Sen. Josh Hawley calls for an investigation into Biden Admin’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve releases to China

Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley requested Wednesday’s investigation into recent Department of Energy (DOE), releases of oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The SPR was used to transport oil overseas, including China.

The Daily Caller obtained the letter first. It was addressed to Teri Donaldson, the Department of Energy (DOE), Inspector General. She stated that the SPR is there to serve and protect U.S. citizens and not adversaries or foreign entities. Hawley said that Americans have been forced to pay more for their gas, while the Biden administration appears to allow strategic U.S. oil stocks to flow to other countries.

President Joe Biden released last month millions of barrels from the SPR, which ended up going on to other countries including China. In November, Biden ordered the release of 50 million barrels of oil from the SPR. He later released 30 million barrels on March 1 and 180 million barrels March 31. (RELATED : REPORT: The Oil Biden Reportedly Released from US Strategic Reserves Ends Up in China )

” While Americans pay record fuel and gasoline prices, it seems that the Biden administration has been allowing our strategic oil stocks to flow to other countries and entities. The American people need answers on how the Department sent oil from the SPR into China. This is critical. In the letter, Hawley stated that DOE’s transfer to UNIPEC of almost one million barrels oil is a worrying example.

This company is a subsidiary owned by a Chinese State-Owned Enterprise. This all comes at a time when the SPR’s level has fallen to about 492 million barrels of oil, the lowest level since 1985, due to the Department’s scheduled releases of nearly one million barrels per day,” he added. (RELATED: ‘She’s On An Island’ — Josh Hawley Slams Liz Cheney, Says She Has ‘No Support In Her Own Caucus’)

Here Are The Questions Hawley Is Asking The DOE:

• Does the Department have any internal controls in place to prevent the transfer of oil from the SPR to foreign entities with ties to China?
• How many barrels from the SPR ended up in American refineries? Which barrels were ultimately exported to foreign countries?
• What qualifications and limitations could be added to the Department’s contracting processes to make sure that the SPR releases serve American citizens to increase the availability of affordable energy.
• Were there any safeguards to make sure that oil from the SPR would reach American markets? These controls could be improved.
• Did Department officials comply with the law requiring them to confer with the Secretary for Defense about SPR releases
• Did Department officials follow the statutory requirement to consult with the Secretary of Defense on SPR releases?

READ THE LETTER HERE:

(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers

Hawley called for answers to his questions by July 29th, 2022. (RELATED: Law Professor Accuses Sen. Hawley Of Being ‘Transphobic’ For Saying Only Women Get Pregnant)

The Daily Caller contacted the DOE about the letter to which they did not immediately respond.