To watch a video of Senator Manchin’s opening remarks, please click here.

To watch a video of Senator Manchin’s questioning, please click here.

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing to examine the use of energy as a tool and weapon, and ensuring energy security for the United States and its allies. U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee, emphasized that America can use its abundant natural resources as well as the tools it has at its disposal to help international allies meet their energy needs and decrease their dependence on Russian energy.

“We have a full-fledged war going on in Ukraine by Russia with no end in sight until they conquer [Ukraine]. Where do they stop? What’s the end game? We don’t know. What we do know is that Russia has weaponized energy. They have used it as a geopolitical weapon. The thing I know about an adversary or a bully is if they have a weapon, you better have one that will match it or be better than theirs. And we do, we just haven’t used it [America’s vast energy resources]. How quickly we get it in production is going to determine whether we’re able to thwart [Putin’s aggression],” said Chairman Manchin.

In considering paths forward, Chairman Manchin asked the witnesses if the Defense Production Act and other tools should be used to meet the urgent need to increase the collective energy security of the United States and its allies in Europe.

During the hearing, Chairman Manchin reiterated the need for the Administration and the private sector to step up to the plate to ensure America is responsive to our immediate domestic needs and those of our allies.

The hearing featured witnesses from the Baker Institute for Public Policy, Columbia University, Energy Futures Initiative, Rice University and Shell USA, Inc. To read their testimony click here.

To watch the hearing in full, please click here.

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