Jordan Supports Bipartisan Anti-OPEC Bill

Press Release

Jordan Supports Bipartisan Anti-OPEC Bill

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) today voted for legislation to criminalize anti-competitive practices by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

H.R. 2264, sponsored by Congressman John Conyers of Michigan, would allow the U.S. Justice Department to file anti-trust cases against OPEC, including cases of price-fixing. The twelve nations comprising OPEC are Algeria, Angola, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

"The first step in cutting gas prices is developing a long-term energy policy that reduces our dependence on dangerous, unstable sources of oil like the Middle East and Venezuela," said Jordan. "We need to move away from reliance on OPEC and toward domestic sources of energy."

Jordan said that a comprehensive energy plan to reduce fuel prices must include an immediate focus on increasing our domestic drilling and refining capacity, as well as a long-term component to promote the research and production of domestically produced alternative and renewable fuels.

"Ohio is uniquely situated to benefit from advances in alternative fuels," Jordan said. "Whether it is ethanol, fuel cells, coal-to-liquid, or other sources, renewable and alternative fuels present us with a future that is economically and environmentally sound--while having a positive effect on our national security," he added.

"Thus far, the Democrat plan for energy has been to raise taxes on American oil producers," said Jordan. "Not only is that bad policy for American businesses, higher taxes won't do a thing to reduce prices at the gas pump."

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