S 2927
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2927
To increase the supply and lower the cost of petroleum by temporarily
suspending the acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve and to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to include
additional acquisition requirements for the Reserve.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 28, 2008
Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and Mr. BOND) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources
A BILL
To increase the supply and lower the cost of petroleum by temporarily
suspending the acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum
Reserve and to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to include
additional acquisition requirements for the Reserve.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Government Oil Acquisition Financial Accountability
and Consumer Relief Act of 2008'.
SEC. 2. SUSPENSION OF PETROLEUM ACQUISITION FOR STRATEGIC PETROLEUM
RESERVE.
(a) In General- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during any
period in which the conditions described in subsection (b) are not met,
the Secretary of Energy shall suspend acquisition of petroleum for the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve through the royalty-in-kind program or any
other acquisition method.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may resume acquisition of petroleum
for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve through the royalty-in-kind program
or any other acquisition method under subsection (a) not earlier than
30 days after the date on which the Secretary notifies Congress that
the Secretary has determined that, for the most recent consecutive
4-week period--
(A) the weighted average price of retail, regular, all formulations
gasoline in the United States is $2.50 or less per gallon (as adjusted
under paragraph (2)); or
(B) the weighted average price of retail, No. 2 diesel in the United
States is $2.75 or less per gallon (as adjusted under paragraph
(2)).
(2) ADJUSTMENT- For fiscal year 2009 and each subsequent fiscal year,
the prices described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1)
for the preceding fiscal year shall be adjusted to reflect changes
for the 12-month period ending the preceding November 30 in the Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the Department of Labor.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL ACQUISITION REQUIREMENTS.
Section 160 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6240)
is amended by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
`(d) Additional Acquisition Requirements-
`(1) IN GENERAL- To the maximum extent practicable, any acquisitions
made by the Secretary for the Reserve shall reflect a steady monthly
dollar value of oil acquired through the royalty-in-kind program or
any other acquisition method allowed by law.
`(2) PARTICULAR INCLUSION-
`(A) DEFINITION OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL- In this paragraph, the term
`heavy crude oil' means oil with a gravity index of not more than
22 degrees.
`(B) REQUIREMENT- To the extent technologically feasible, financially
beneficial for the Treasury of the United States, and compatible
with domestic refining requirements, the Secretary shall include
at least 10 percent heavy crude oil in making any acquisitions of
crude oil for the Reserve.
`(3) NEGOTIATION OF DELIVERY DATES- Nothing in this subsection limits
the ability of the Secretary to negotiate delivery dates for crude
oil acquired for the Reserve.
`(4) NATIONAL SECURITY NEEDS- The Secretary may waive any requirement
under this subsection if the Secretary determines that the requirement
is inconsistent with the national security needs of the United States.'.
END
