Pressure grows on Biden to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil

[bonnie]

Pressure grows on Biden to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil (msn.com)

© Reuters/JONATHAN ERNSTU.S. Senator Manchin leads a group of legislators to introduce a bill to ban Russian energy imports, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a bill on Thursday to ban U.S. imports of Russian oil, saying the shipments could be replaced by boosting output in North America and other places.

The bill would have to pass the Senate and House and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law, but the White House has indicated reluctance to support moves that could increase the price of gasoline at a time when inflation is already high.

The bill, Banning Russian Energy Imports Act, is intended to punish President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine and is sponsored by 18 senators in the 100-member chamber, including Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat, and Lisa Murkowski, a Republican. Similar legislation has been offered by Senator Ed Markey, a liberal Democrat.

 

© Reuters/JONATHAN ERNSTU.S. Senator Manchin leads a group of legislators to introduce a bill to ban Russian energy imports, at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi also said she supports a ban. "I'm all for that," she told reporters. "Ban the oil coming from Russia."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether Biden, a Democrat, would sign the bill.

"I don't believe this country should be importing anything from Russia," Jon Tester, a Democrat from oil-producing Montana who supports the Manchin-Murkowski bill, told reporters. "It will send even a bigger message that the United States is in this with Ukrainians for the long haul."