Joe Manchin Proposes Bill To Ban Russian Oil Days After Sitting With Republicans During POTUS' First State of the Union Address

Democrats Urge To Avoid Midterm Disaster, Push To Revive President Joe Biden’s Agenda To Fight US Inflation — Leading Democrats are attempting to handle the news that inflation has reached a 40-year high as Republicans continue to attack the economy in the run-up to the midterm elections in November. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

In reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a bipartisan group of legislators led by Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski proposed a bill on Thursday prohibiting Russia from importing energy.

A total of 18 senators, both Republicans and Democrats, have signed on to the bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was questioned about the idea of blocking Russian crude-oil imports during her weekly news conference on Thursday, before Manchin and Murkowski's remarks.

Manchin Slams Biden Administration for Importing Oil From Russia

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated that limiting global energy supply is not in the US's "strategic interest" at this time. Psaki also stated that when it comes to sanctions against Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, US President Biden considers "how can we maximize impact on President Putin while minimizing the impact on the American people," National Review reported.

Manchin, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is demanding that the Biden administration take even tougher measures to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, including banning the importation of its oil. Manchin, a Democrat who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said it was hypocritical to ask other countries to do "what we can do for ourselves" and demanded that the administration halt the imports, which he claims exceed 500,000 barrels of oil and other petroleum products per day.

His effort comes as the United States and its European allies unveiled a series of measures aimed at Russia's banking industry, as well as Putin and his close circle. Like former National Security Advisor Dr. Fiona Hill, others are urging governments and firms to halt all dealings with Russia to prevent Russia from funding its takeover of its neighbor through commodity purchases and other trade.

Manchin has consistently fought for his state's coal-based energy resources, and his opposition helped sink Biden's $1.8 trillion Build Back Better proposal. Continuing to purchase from Russia, he argued, "makes no sense at all and poses a clear, and present threat to our country's energy security. To safeguard our energy independence and help our friends across the world, the United States can and must enhance domestic energy production and improve access to our vast resources and technology."

"All options are on the table," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday at the White House, but she wouldn't say if the US will join Canada in a boycott on Russian oil and gas. She read a lengthy account of the current situation.

According to the Wall Street Journal, despite being the world's top oil exporter, the US imports around 672,000 barrels of oil and processed goods from Russia every day.

Senator Was Seen Sitting With Republicans

Refineries in the Gulf aren't connected to pipelines on the East or West coasts, and refineries require certain sorts of petroleum. Laws in the United States also limit the size of cargo ships that can travel between US ports.

The United States and its partners in the International Energy Agency (IEA) agreed to release 60 million barrels of oil on Tuesday to cool surging oil prices. Amid calls for action on Russian oil and gas, President Joe Biden must simultaneously deal with growing inflation, which is influenced by oil prices, as well as his vows to utilize more green energy and reduce his reliance on fossil fuels, according to Daily Mail.

During his State of the Union address, Joe Manchin was observed sitting alongside Republicans. President Biden used his State of the Union address to chastise Russia's Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine, and Manchin was spotted sitting with Republicans for the entirety of Biden's speech from the House chamber on Tuesday night.

Biden also attempted to persuade Manchin, a lone Democrat who opposes Biden's Build Back Better Act, to join him in enacting the trillion-dollar package on climate and social spending, as per Independent.