Congressman August Pfluger, who represents Texas’ 11th district in the U.S. Congress, appeared on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria Bartiromo” to discuss energy policy, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), and the use of Venezuelan oil for refilling national reserves.
During his interview, Rep. Pfluger criticized what he described as a politically motivated drawdown of the SPR by the Biden administration. He argued that replenishing the reserve should be a top priority for Republicans in 2026. “American energy dominance and a full SPR go hand in hand,” Pfluger said, suggesting that using Venezuelan oil seized from tankers could offer a cost-effective way to refill the reserve while supporting U.S. energy security.
Pfluger also commented on President Trump’s meeting with American oil executives, cautioning against efforts to drive oil prices too low. “Yes, we want low prices, but if they’re driven too low, it’s really about jobs. It’s not about profits. It’s about jobs, and we could lose those jobs right now,” he stated.
He further addressed the issue of assets expropriated from U.S. companies by Venezuela under Hugo Chavez and Nicolás Maduro: “The Maduro regime stole and expropriated assets from U.S. companies. They should pay that back.” He proposed using Venezuelan barrels currently available at discounted rates to refill over 300 million barrels still needed for the SPR.
On maintaining sustainable domestic production levels, Pfluger noted: “We are currently sitting in the upper 50s [dollars per barrel]. The mid-60s is about where you can continue to produce American oil… If we go further down…we will start laying rigs down.”
Discussing price bands favorable for continued drilling activity, he explained: “That band is $65 to $85… At $65, you can continue to drill.” He highlighted that modern horizontal shale wells require ongoing investment due to rapid decline rates and emphasized stable pricing as key for industry employment and consumer costs.
Regarding technical aspects of refining Venezuelan crude in Gulf Coast facilities, Pfluger said: “The refineries on the Gulf Coast are tooled for the specific product that’s coming out of Venezuela… We’ll keep it right there.” He added that utilizing this supply would no longer benefit sanctioned regimes.
Rep. Pfluger has served Texas’s 11th District since 2021 after replacing Mike Conaway in Congress (https://ballotpedia.org/August_Pfluger). In 2020, he won his seat by defeating Jon Mark Hogg with nearly 80% of the vote.
In an op-ed published in The Dallas Morning News, Pfluger warned that delaying action on refilling the SPR risks leaving America vulnerable during future global crises. As he wrote: “Congress must build on the momentum from the WFTC and prioritize appropriating the necessary funds to fully replenish the SPR now– not after the next global disruption drives prices up or exposes a crippling vulnerability.”
Summarizing his stance on long-term energy policy during his TV appearance, Rep. Pfluger stated: “Let’s keep a good, sustainable, low-price affordable energy policy going… There are so many people around the world…that want our product… Onshore production needs to remain strong… When we push it down [prices], it might be a sugar rush…but let’s keep it sustainable.”
The conversation comes as Republicans outline their priorities heading into 2026 legislative sessions.
