Upton Hoped For Tougher Plan On Russia In State Of The Union

Following President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Tuesday, Congressman Fred Upton issued a statement saying he’s “disappointed at the lack of talk on how to counter the alarming threat of Putin.” Upton told WSJM News before the speech he wanted the president to talk about ending Russian oil imports.

“I’m helping to introduce legislation that renews the Keystone Pipeline, that we look at more exports, the development of LNG – liquified natural gas – particularly to our allies, whether they be members of NATO, whether they be in the EU, other places, to offset Russian gas,” Upton said. “We know that Russia is getting about $60 million a day, just from the U.S. for energy. We need to cut that off.”

Upton said in his statement the president’s speech came “at perhaps one of the tensest, solemn and serious times in America’s and in fact the world’s history” as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues. Therefore, he says he believes “generations to come will look back at decisions made during this crisis and say either, ‘thank God they took those actions,’ or ask, ‘why the hell didn’t they?’” He told us Congress wants Putin stopped.

Upton’s full statement on the State of the Union is below:

“President Biden entered the House of Representatives chamber tonight at perhaps one of the tensest, solemn and serious times in America’s and in fact the world’s history. We all are watching the brutal invasion and assault of Ukraine with deep concern and real fear of what the future holds with Putin and his significant nuclear capability.

I really believe generations to come will look back at decisions made during this crisis and say either, “thank God they took those actions,” or ask, “why the hell didn’t they?”

I am disappointed at the lack of talk on how to counter the alarming threat of Putin. We need to use every tool in the toolbox, including immediately ending Russian Oil importation. We are buying oil from Russia to the tune of $100 million a day. I support Biden’s call for products and jobs made in America, like chips and autos, but we must apply that standard to our energy supply as well.

We must continue to cripple Putin’s murderous regime with punishing sanctions and provide military equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces. However, we haven’t sanctioned Russia’s most valuable export, energy. Putin has been able to finance the invasion through the sale of Russia’s energy exports to Europe and the United States. It’s true that under President Trump we were on a path towards true energy independence. However, the Biden administration’s energy policies have put us further behind and more reliant on countries, like Russia for our energy needs. We must reopen the Keystone Pipeline and invest in domestic energy production. These steps will help families by lowering the cost at the pump and eliminating our need to import oil from Russia. The Biden Administration needs to stop their war on American energy and approve Liquid Natural Gas exports to Europe to open up new markets while reducing their dependence on Russian natural gas.

I’ve joined my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to introduce the American Energy Independence from Russia Act, a comprehensive package to make these necessary changes. If President Biden gets his everything-but-the-kitchen-sink projects through without addressing these pressing issues, folks in Michigan and around the country can expect even more pain at the pump, higher inflation, and continuing to buy energy from Vladimir Putin.

On a high note, I am pleased that the President raised our shared goal of faster cures for cancer and other devastating diseases. The Cancer Moonshot program was a cornerstone of 21st Century Cures and made great strides towards a cure for the incurable. This is certainly a bipartisan goal we can all embrace.”