Press Releases

Washington, DC—October 14, 2021….In light of rising gas prices, Congressman Steve Womack (R-AR) joined Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and other members in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to reverse his anti-American agenda of emboldening adversarial foreign energy producers and empower American energy producers instead.  

The letter, which was signed by more than 140 House Republicans, comes after the Biden Administration’s recent request to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 10 other oil-exporting nations, known collectively as OPEC+, to produce more oil to fight rising gas prices for American consumers.

In part, the lawmakers wrote, "Your assessment that increasing oil supply is necessary to reduce prices at the pump is valid, and we agree with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan who said that rising gasoline costs will 'risk harming the ongoing global recovery.' However, we disagree with your Administration’s efforts to decrease access to American energy resources while soliciting OPEC+ nations to increase production of their resources. As you are aware, OPEC+ includes nations that are known American adversaries, such as Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. It is not in America’s interest to rely on these nations for energy. Instead, eliminating barriers to American-produced oil and natural gas and its infrastructure will increase American economic and job growth, enhance national and energy security, and lower energy prices for American families. It will also result in reduced global emissions as the United States produces energy with an environmental responsibility that exceeds those of other nations upon which you wish for America to rely.

"Unfortunately, your recent request of OPEC+ is consistent with a number of anti-American energy policies that your Administration and congressional Democrats are pushing, including: cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline; proposing to ban domestic fracking; declaring a moratorium on oil and natural gas leases on Federal lands and waters; and changing tax law to harm domestic production. In addition, your Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) affirms this anti-American energy approach. One of three 'key objectives' in the USACE budget request is 'not funding work' that 'lowers the cost of production' or 'lowers the cost of consumption' of fossil fuels. In other words, a key objective of your Administration is to prohibit American energy resources from being used to lower energy costs for American consumers. Further, your Administration and congressional Democrats are advocating for budget reconciliation legislation that will ensure increased gas prices and already out-of-control inflation for American families. In effect, these various actions will result in dependence on OPEC+ nations to meet our, and the world’s, energy needs."

Read the full letter here.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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