Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves attempted to defund President Joe Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia by offering legislation that would prohibit U.S. taxpayers from paying for the trip unless his administration reverses course and increases domestic energy production. Graves' amendments to H.R. 7606 – the Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2022 – were plucked by House Democrats despite their and the Biden Administration's push for meat and poultry priorities instead of legislation that would help Americans suffering from skyrocketing energy costs.

"Americans can barely afford to drive to work, but the president can afford to fly to Saudi Arabia to negotiate for foreign oil. The free peoples of the United States can produce the energy America needs. There's no need to rely on diesel despots and petroleum potentates like Iran, Venezuela and others. The Biden Administration continues to ignore the fact that folks are suffering from this administration's policy decisions, and it is baffling they want to ask countries in the Persian Gulf to drive down energy prices instead of supporting domestic energy jobs and production in the Gulf of Mexico. Fourchon is a hell of a shorter commute than Dubai. Instead of traveling across the world, we invite the President and his team to Grand Isle – the Nantucket and Catalina of the Third Coast – to see underutilized domestic energy production and to grab some boudin for the road. We can be the energy leader we need right now – for our country and world. At some point, the Biden Administration needs to do some self-reflection and realize saying no to everything is not an energy strategy," Graves said.

Graves also urged the President to avoid traveling to Iran and Venezuela for the same purposes.

For more details about H.R. 7606, click here. To read the amendments, click here.

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