Washington, D.C. – In response to the U.S. House of Representatives deal with the Obama administration on a proposed two-year budget, SAFE Energy Security Leadership Council member Admiral Dennis C. Blair, USN (Ret.), issued the following statement:

“The SPR is America’s only short-term line of defense in reaction to oil supply disruptions and price spikes, and the SPR only works if it can get its petroleum to market quickly and efficiently in the event of a supply emergency. The proposed budget establishes a fund to improve the reactivity and reliability of the SPR—an important step in modernizing this asset critical to America’s energy security. It also requires DOE to complete a strategic review of the SPR before drawing down its supplies.”

“I would caution Congress and the administration against using the SPR as a revenue generator. I would also recommend that the SPR not be drawn down before DOE’s strategic review is complete and that any proceeds from SPR sales be dedicated to energy expenditures with the goal of improving our country’s energy security. While this deal is far from perfect, it is a noteworthy compromise that establishes a minimum size for the SPR and, critically, ensures it is upgraded to guarantee its ability to respond in the event of future supply emergencies.”

About Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is a nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil and improve U.S. energy security to bolster national security and strengthen the economy. SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in fuel efficiency, and in the long-term, breaking oil’s stranglehold on the transportation sector through alternatives like natural gas for heavy-duty trucks and plug-in electric vehicles. In 2006, SAFE joined with General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, to form the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of business and former military leaders committed to reducing the United States’ dependence on oil.

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