SAVE Act

Bill Number: H.R. 256
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Energy
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Last Updated: 2025-03-27T12:32:01Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The SAVE Act (H.R. 256) aims to protect U.S. strategic energy resources by restricting sales of petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)—a government stockpile of emergency oil—to entities in countries considered national security risks. This ensures that U.S. energy reserves are not indirectly supporting adversarial nations.

Key Provisions

Prohibition on Sales: Adds a new Section 170 to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, barring the Secretary of Energy from selling SPR petroleum products to any entity headquartered in:
Countries listed in Table 1 of 22 CFR 126.1(d)(1) (these are nations subject to U.S. arms embargoes, such as those posing risks to U.S. foreign policy or security, e.g., China, Iran, North Korea, Syria).
Russia.
Scope: The ban applies to all sales authorized under any U.S. law.
Conforming Changes: Updates existing sections of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to reference the new prohibition and adds it to the law's table of contents.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Inserts a targeted restriction into the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (1975), which previously allowed SPR sales with fewer geographic limitations.
Expands drawdown and sale rules (Section 161) to explicitly include the new ban, closing potential loopholes for sales to restricted entities.
No changes to the overall authority to draw down or sell SPR oil for emergencies, but adds a compliance layer focused on buyer nationality.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: The Department of Energy (DOE) must enforce the ban, potentially increasing administrative oversight for SPR sales and monitoring buyer headquarters to avoid violations.
Citizens: Could stabilize domestic energy supplies by preventing SPR oil from reaching markets that might benefit U.S. adversaries, possibly reducing long-term energy price volatility during crises; however, it might limit market options if global buyers are restricted.
International Relations: Strengthens U.S. sanctions and embargo policies by linking energy resources to foreign policy, signaling tougher stances on nations like Russia and embargoed countries; may strain trade ties with affected entities but align with broader national security goals.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Government: DOE as the primary enforcer; Congress for oversight of energy policy.
Energy Sector: U.S. oil companies and buyers who rely on SPR releases, potentially facing reduced competition from foreign entities.
Foreign Entities: Companies headquartered in Russia or embargoed countries (e.g., in China or Iran) lose access to SPR oil, impacting their supply chains.
U.S. Consumers and Economy: Indirectly benefits through preserved reserves but could affect global oil markets if sales are curtailed.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Reinforces executive authority under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act without new funding or rulemaking mandates; relies on existing regulations (e.g., arms embargo lists), which could be updated independently, potentially broadening the ban over time.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's commerce and foreign affairs powers (Article I, Section 8), enhancing national security without infringing on private trade rights, as it targets government-controlled SPR sales.
Political: Reflects bipartisan concerns over energy independence and sanctions (introduced by Republicans but with broad implications); could influence U.S. energy diplomacy amid geopolitical tensions, such as those with Russia post-2022 Ukraine invasion, but risks criticism for limiting free-market sales during shortages.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Baird, James R. [R-IN-4], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]

Recent Actions

2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
2025-01-09: Introduced in House
2025-01-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

Save America’s Valuable Energy Act — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (3 pages)