Heinrich Bill Would Require Long-Term Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Plan

On October 29, 2026, Senator Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced the Strategic Petroleum Readiness and Long-Term Modernization Act. The bill would establish a statutory planning framework for the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), addressing the condition of the reserve’s infrastructure, its maintenance backlog, and operational limitations. Heinrich’s announcement frames the legislation as an effort to ensure the reserve remains available to respond to severe petroleum supply disruptions. For federal contractors, the signal is a potential precursor to future planning and infrastructure work—not a current procurement opportunity.

The bill would require the Secretary of Energy to conduct a long-range strategic review of the SPR and deliver a proposed implementation schedule to Congress within 180 days of enactment. It would also require the Department of Energy (DOE) to periodically update its long-term SPR maintenance plan. The 180-day period would begin only if the legislation is enacted; introduction on October 29 does not trigger the deadline. As a result, there is no implementation date or immediate agency action deadline established by the bill at this stage.

Heinrich’s office said the administration had drawn down the SPR to 283 million barrels, described in the release as a historic low. The announcement links the reserve’s reduced size with concerns about energy security, aging infrastructure, maintenance needs, and the ability to respond when supply is constrained. Heinrich said, “As our energy demand increases, we need to ensure the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is properly maintained, fully operational, and can be counted on when supply is constrained.” The source also attributes the drawdown and related concerns to the Trump administration and cites the administration’s conflict with Iran; these are statements and characterizations in the senator’s press release.

The proposal also includes changes beyond planning. It would repeal certain existing SPR drawdown and sale requirements, with the stated aim of limiting further decreases in reserve size or avoiding operational inefficiencies, including undue strain on aging infrastructure during ongoing capital projects. It would make technical and conforming amendments to relevant sections of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). The legislation itself does not establish a procurement, identify funding, announce a solicitation, or specify contract vehicles or project-level requirements. Contractors should therefore treat the bill as an early policy signal and monitor congressional action and any later DOE plans before assigning near-term pipeline value.

• Bill status: Senator Martin Heinrich introduced the Strategic Petroleum Readiness and Long-Term Modernization Act on October 29, 2026; the proposed requirements depend on enactment.
• Required review: The bill would direct the Energy Secretary to conduct a long-range strategic review of the SPR.
• Planning deadline: A proposed implementation schedule would be due to Congress within 180 days after enactment, not 180 days after introduction.
• Recurring planning: DOE would be required to periodically update its long-term SPR maintenance plan.
• Potential work areas: Future plans could inform needs in infrastructure assessment, maintenance, modernization, and capital-project coordination; no specific requirement or acquisition is identified yet.
• Reserve figure: Heinrich’s press release reports that the SPR had been drawn down to 283 million barrels, which it characterizes as a historic low.
• Other proposed provisions: The bill would repeal certain drawdown and sale requirements and make technical and conforming amendments to relevant portions of EPCA.
• Contractor action: Firms with relevant energy-infrastructure capabilities can map those capabilities to potential work areas, while treating opportunities as contingent on enactment and DOE follow-on planning.
• Monitoring priority: Track congressional consideration and DOE communications for details on scope, schedule, funding, and any eventual acquisition strategy.