Cheyenne, OK – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) yesterday joined Congresswoman Carol Miller (WV-03), House Republican Leadership, and 140 of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging the Biden Administration to reverse its course requesting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to increase oil production and instead embrace America’s energy needs with American-produced energy.

The letter reads, “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.”

“We ask that you work with us to preserve America’s energy security and reverse your Administration’s disastrous energy policies that will make us dependent on countries like China and Russia. Instead of making unilateral decisions that ultimately harm our nation’s energy supply and security, work with Congress- including House Republicans- who share the view that lowering energy costs for Americans and increasing American competitiveness is of critical importance. We urge you to help American energy producers and workers ensure that Americans and our allies have access to our abundant, affordable resources. We look forward to working with you to ensure that Americans, and our allies around the globe, have access to affordable American energy that will reduce, not increase, global emissions.”

Demand for petroleum products plummeted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As economies and businesses recovered, petroleum supply has remained constrained. In light of supply, gas prices have steadily climbed higher, reaching its highest pricessince October 2014.

A recent report by the Energy Information Administration stated U.S. households can expect to pay more to heat their homes this coming winter- costing $746 on average to heat homes with natural gas and $1,268 on average to heat homes with electric heat.

According to the Wall Street Journal, soaring gas and energy prices are increasing inflation, dampening consumer spending, and ultimately slowing the U.S. recovery.

Read the letter here or below:

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