Sen. Kelly Statement on Announcement to Ban Russian Oil Imports

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly issued this statement following the Biden administration’s announcement to ban Russian oil, gas, and coal imports amid growing pressure from Kelly and Republican and Democratic members of the House and Senate. Last week, Kelly and Senators Manchin and Murkowski introduced bicameral and bipartisan legislation to prohibit imports of Russian energy products.

“I’m glad that President Biden listened to our calls to ban Russian oil imports. The United States shouldn’t be fueling Vladimir Putin’s illegal war. I’ll keep working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to ensure the U.S. continues to stand with the Ukrainian people, punish Putin and his backers, and take steps to strengthen our energy independence,” said Senator Kelly, a Navy combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. 

In the Senate, Kelly, a Navy combat veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has worked to lower energy costs and strengthen America’s national security. Kelly condemned Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, urging maximum sanctions on Putin and the Russian government. He successfully pushedPresident Biden to take immediate steps to bring down energy prices for Americans by authorizing coordinated releases of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Additionally, Kelly has urged Biden to sign his bill to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year.