Sas... Bees Wnited States Senate Sai aces Sa Wasinaron, DC 20510-6150 WOW ENERGY SENATE.GOV July 21, 2022 ‘The Honorable Jennifer Granholm Secretary U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Secretary Granholm, am concerned that in the midst of an energy crisis, the Department of Enerey (Department) has lost focus on its mission, Instead of looking out for American workers and families suffering under extraordinarily high energy prices, it appears the Department is doing nothing to make things better—and may actually be making things worse. In particular, 1 would draw your attention to the most recent instance where the Department seems to be working to the detriment of the national interest The Department's sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to a company owned by China,’ the Nation’ biggest geopolitical adversary, is inexcusable, I remind you and the Department that, according to Pub, L 99-198, title XVII, § 1778, “the Strategic Petroleum Reserve should be considered a national security asset.” ihe answer to the energy crisis is simple: unleashing the full force of American energy. Continued energy independence and energy security will not come from exporting key oil reserves to our adversaries. It will come from empowering American energy producers to produce more energy. That includes producing more oil and natural gas on federal lands and waters, Task that you answer the following questions no later than August 3, 2022. Sincerely, John Barrasso, M.D. Ranking Member " Arathy Somasekhar, “Oil from U.S. Reserves Sent Overseas as Gasoline Prices Reuters, July 6, 2022), htps:/vww.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-us-reserves. high-2022-07-05), fay High,” Reuters (Thomson ead-overseas-gasoline-prices-stay-Questions 1. In the case of the purchase of SPR reserves by Unipec America, the trading arm of Sinopec, the China Petrochemical Corporation, which is wholly owned by the Chinese government: a. Why was this purchase approved? b. Who is in charge of approving SPR purchases and the solicitation of bids? ¢. Please provide a comprehensive, step-by-step account of Unipec’s purchasing process through the Department, including but not limited to: i. areview of conflicts of interest: ii, a review of Unipec’s association with the Chinese Communist Party; and iii, all pursuant documents