WASHINGTON, DC—In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) is sounding the alarm and calling for action. In a recent op-ed in The Dallas Morning News, Rep. Pfluger makes the case that Congress must act now to refill the dangerously depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) while prices are low and the opportunity is ripe.
Representing the most prolific oil- and gas-producing region in the country, Rep. Pfluger knows firsthand that energy security is national security. In his piece, he warns that the Biden administration's unprecedented drawdown of the SPR has left America's emergency crude oil stockpile running on fumes, leaving the nation exposed to global instability and sudden supply shocks.
With oil prices projected to remain relatively low through 2026 and geopolitical tensions escalating worldwide, Rep. Pfluger argues that Congress has a narrow but critical window to act. Kicking the can down the road, he cautions, would squander an opportunity to replenish the reserve at a discount and risks leaving the nation vulnerable when the next global crisis inevitably strikes. As Rep. Pfluger writes,“Congress must build on the momentum from the WFTC and prioritize appropriating the necessary funds to fully replenish the SPR now– not after the next global disruption drives prices up or exposes a crippling vulnerability.”
The op-ed comes as Republicans outline their 2026 priorities. After making historic progress toward restoring American energy dominance in 2025, Rep. Pfluger argues the path forward is clear: refilling the SPR is a no-brainer. It's a commonsense step that will strengthen national security, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure America isn't left running on empty when it matters most.
Read the full op-ed in The Dallas Morning NewsHERE, or in part below:
Refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve now, before it’s too late
By Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)
Following the 1970s oil crisis, Congress created the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) as America’s insurance policy against global energy supply disruptions. For nearly half a century, this emergency crude oil stockpile has served as an indispensable safeguard – ready to cushion the blow from unexpected market shocks, natural disasters, or geopolitical conflicts.
Today, however, this vital insurance policy is running on fumes. At just 409 million barrels, the SPR is at its lowest level since its inception, with less than 60% of its capacity currently being utilized.
This depletion stems largely from the Biden administration’s unprecedented drawdown of more than 290 million barrels in 2022 in an attempt to ease high gas prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While the move temporarily worked, it was the largest drawdown in the reserve’s history and came with no viable plan to replace what was taken.
Three years later, the SPR remains dangerously depleted, and now the structural integrity of the salt caverns that protect the remaining barrels is at serious risk.
Fortunately, there is a clear solution, and Washington must act on it.
Read the full op-ed HERE or by clicking the image below.
