House passes bill banning sale of oil to China from Strategic Petroleum Reserve

The GOP-led House passed legislation Thursday that would ban the sale of oil to China from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

The Protecting America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve from China Act passed in a bipartisan vote.

Republicans have been critical of the Energy Department allowing the sale of oil from the reserve to Chinese entities. In response to the criticism, the White House said the department is required to sell oil from the reserve to the highest bidder.

The bill that passed would prohibit the department from "selling petroleum products (e.g., crude oil) from the reserve to any entity that is under the ownership, control, or influence of the Chinese Communist Party."

The measure now heads to the Democrat-controlled Senate. 

House Republicans vowed ahead to taking control of Congress earlier this month that the measure and the vote on it would be a top priority.