WASHINGTON House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) joined the bipartisan chorus of lawmakers calling for the Biden administration to stop Russian oil imports.

Im all for it, Pelosi said at a Thursday press conference. Ban the oil coming from Russia.

The U.S. and most of the world have harshly sanctioned Russia for its war in Ukraine , crushing Russias currency and potentially collapsing its economy, but made an exception for Russian oil so as to avoid harming consumers with higher gas prices.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration is very open to the idea of sanctioning Russian oil and gas, though it is concerned how it would impact energy prices at home and abroad.

Were considering it, its very much on the table, but we need to weigh what all of the impacts will be. Were not trying to hurt ourselves, were trying to hurt President Putin and the Russian economy, Psaki said Wednesday in an interview on MSNBC.

Republicans have unanimously said Biden should stop the oil imports and also undo restrictions on domestic oil production, such as by greenlighting the Keystone pipeline and allowing energy companies to drill in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge longtime GOP priorities. Democrats such as Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) have also called for sanctions to include Russian energy.

It is simply inexplicable that we and other Western nations continue to spend billions of dollars on energy from Russia, Manchin said this week. This funding directly supports Putins ability to stay in power and execute a war on the people of Ukraine.

The war has already pushed up crude oil prices, partly because supply has decreased due to oil traders preemptively shunning Russian crude just because it might be sanctioned later. Its all happening at a time when overall price inflation has already surged to the highest level in 40 years.