Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced the Fuel Utilization for Enhanced Logistics (FUEL) Act aimed at ensuring a reliable fuel supply for the U.S. military. The bill comes in response to the U.S. Department of Defense's "Operational Energy Strategy" report, which highlighted the limited visibility the military has into its operational energy distribution and use.

In a statement, Senator Rubio emphasized the importance of safeguarding every aspect of defense, including the energy supply necessary for military operations. He stated, "Ensuring the strength and resilience of our military means safeguarding every aspect of our defense, including our energy supply. The FUEL Act will make sure we are assessing vulnerabilities in the energy supply required to fight and win conflicts."

The FUEL Act proposes several key measures to enhance the security of the U.S. military's fuel supply and logistics network. These include evaluating vulnerabilities in the fuel supply specifically in the Indo-Pacific region, analyzing contingency plans for uninterrupted energy supply chains under contested conditions, identifying operational energy infrastructure owned by commercial companies or host countries, and studying global refining capacity trends and their implications for national security.

The bill aims to address the gaps in oversight of fuel distribution highlighted in the DoD's report, including investments in national oil companies in China and the Middle East. By assessing vulnerabilities and developing strategies for rapid deployment energy solutions, the FUEL Act seeks to strengthen the resilience of the U.S. military's energy infrastructure in critical regions.