WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 ─ API today voiced support for the bipartisan bill led by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to repeal Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 that could preclude the U.S. military from using crude oil derived from Canadian oil sands.

“Any law that threatens the use of one of the most secure sources of oil – Canadian oil sands – jeopardizes our national security and simply defies logic,” said API Senior Director of Federal Relations Khary Cauthen. “At a time when American forces are combating terrorists abroad, it is vital for the Pentagon to have the versatility to secure and develop fuel from strong ally our top trade partner.

“Section 526 seeks to restrict fuel choices,” said Cauthen. “It is vague, ambiguous and does not improve reliability of energy supplies, nor does it help our national security goals. The Department of Defense is the government’s largest consumer of fuels. If not repealed, it could increase fuel costs for our military and severely restrict the Pentagon's ability to get energy that originates from our strongest ally, Canada. True national security rests on a secure, diverse fuel supply for our armed forces.

API thanked the bipartisan group of Senators on their steadfast leadership on an issue that is vitality important to our country’s national security.

API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 500 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.