WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) today joined Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives in their call for President Bush to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).  Stupak, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, is working on legislative proposals in Congress to eliminate excessive speculation in the energy markets, crack down on price gouging and develop domestic energy sources.  In addition to these short- and long-term actions, Stupak noted that a release from the SPR could have an immediate impact on gas prices.

“There are few things that can be done to lower gas prices in the short term, but the president has the power to increase the supply of oil in our country today,” Stupak said.  “He should use the authority Congress has given him to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and provide some relief to consumers suffering from high oil prices.”

This is the second time in as many months that Congress has urged the president to use the SPR to alleviate the impact high energy costs are having on Americans.  In May, Congress passed legislation to force the president to stop the stockpiling 70 million barrels of oil a day in the SPR while oil remains at record high prices.

“The SPR is a valuable tool the president has at his disposal to address energy emergencies,” Stupak said.  “With consumers paying record prices at the pump, airlines laying off employees to offset high fuel costs, the price of food skyrocketing and businesses in every sector of our economy facing higher costs of doing business, what more does it take for the president to consider this an energy emergency?”

The president has broad authority to release oil from the SPR during times of national emergencies, and previous actions to use the SPR by current and past presidents have reduced the price of oil.