WASHINGTON — House Republicans are launching an investigation into what they say could be the “potential misuse” by the Biden administration of the nation’s emergency oil reserves to lower gasoline prices, as well as White House deliberations over a fuel export ban.
The move by the Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform previews a more robust probe if the GOP takes control of the chamber after the November midterm elections, a development that would grant them the power to subpoena key administration officials of President Joe Biden.
Committee Republicans, in a letter Wednesday, said they were examining the use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve by the administration amid a historic 180 million barrel release that began in the spring on the heels of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and culminated last week when the White House announced it was offloading the final tranche of 15 million barrels. The Republicans also said in the letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm that it was seeking information about a possible export ban of refined petroleum products.
