WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) in introducing legislation to ban the U.S. purchase of Russian oil. The bill comes ahead of President Joe Biden’s address to the nation and in response to Russia’s unjustifiable war against the sovereign nation of Ukraine.


“Why are we importing oil from Russia when the natural resources we need are in our backyard? Russian oil and gas funds Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Europe. North Dakota and American oil can and should fill the gap. Banning the importation of petroleum and corresponding products from Russia is common sense and an important move for our nation’s energy, economic, and national security,” said Senator Cramer.


“First and foremost, President Biden needs to restart America’s energy production and quit financing Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine by continuing to purchase crude oil from Russia. Under the previous Administration, our nation was energy independent but President Biden reversed course and turned hostile nations like Russia into America’s gas station,” said Senator Marshall. “Make no mistake, if President Biden fails to act, we will continue to work in Congress to hold Vladimir Putin accountable.”


In 2021, the U.S. imported nearly 700,000 barrels of oil a day from Russia. As a nation, we have been unnecessarily contributing to the industrial success of a hostile competitor that has repeatedly shown a willingness to weaponize its energy exports. This bill swiftly moves to stop financing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and removes Russian fuels from American supply chains. The prohibition in the bill would take effect 15 days after enactment and would exclude shipments that are already in transit at that time. Just yesterday, Canada announced it banned imports of crude oil from Russia.


Senators Cramer and Marshall are joined by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Hoeven (R-ND), and John Cornyn (R-TX) as cosponsors. 


Click here to read the bill.