Why are they helping Russia now?
On Wednesday (March 16), House Democrats blocked consideration of a Republican bill designed to bolster U.S. energy independence from Russia, a move strongly condemned by Republicans.
Announcing the failure of the bill, Congresswoman Stephanie Bice (R-OK.) tweeted, “House Dems just voted against a measure by [House Republicans] to consider the American Independence from Russia Act — a critical bill that would unleash American energy production.”
She concluded her tweet, stating, “Clearly, Dems don’t care about solving our crushing energy crisis. Unbelievable!”
The bill, H.R.6585, would revive the Keystone XL pipeline without a presidential permit, require the President to commission an energy security plan, and restore oil and gas leases.
The bill comes as Republicans have touted increasing oil production in the U.S. as a way to stop the U.S. and Europe from relying on Russian oil imports.
The bill’s rejection also got swift backlash, most notably from Alexis Martinez Johnson, an environmental engineer and Republican candidate for New Mexico, who criticized Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico for voting alongside Democrats and voting to block the bill.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Martinez Johnson expressed her frustration saying, “This now marks the second time in as many weeks that Leger Fernandez and her radical left House Democrats allies have blocked a vote on securing energy independence.”
Martinez Johnson also accused Leger Fernandez of “voting with special interests and against the interests of her constituents.”
The Republican candidate remarked how New Mexico is “blessed with one of the most energy-rich and energy-diverse states in the country,” enabling the state to start “powering the nation, creating high paying jobs where they are desperately needed, and reinforcing our national security.”
She also shared her perspective as an environmental engineer, saying that seeing Democrats blocking the bill is “infuriating.”
