Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · May 21, 2020

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

This bill revises requirements for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to address underused storage facilities.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to lease such storage facilities to private entities. Currently, DOE may only lease these storage facilities to foreign governments. DOE must ensure that leasing of facilities to foreign governments will not impair national security.

In addition, DOE must conduct a program to lease storage capacity for up to 200 million barrels of petroleum products at storage facilities of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and related facilities.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] · R–LA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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May 21, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
May 21, 2020
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · May 21, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.3816 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.3816, 116th Congress: Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3816

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s3816/BILLS-116s3816is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3816 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3816 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.3816, 116th Congress: Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3816

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s3816/BILLS-116s3816is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3816 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3816 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.3816, 116th Congress: Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3816

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s3816/BILLS-116s3816is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3816 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3816 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3816, 116th Congress: Strategic Petroleum Reserve Reform Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3816

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2020-05-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s3816/BILLS-116s3816is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3816 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.