Allied Progress: Today’s Vote Backing Big Oil Was “Shortsighted and Reckless”
Statement From Allied Progress Executive Director Karl Frisch Following House Subcommittee Vote to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power voted to lift the crude oil export ban, a critical 40-year old policy that blocks a majority of raw American crude oil from being exported to foreign countries. The measure is now expected come before the full House of Representatives later this month. Allied Progress, an organization that is running ad campaigns in several states urging lawmakers to oppose repeal of the policy, released the following statement from executive director Karl Frisch panning the vote:
“Big oil’s lobbyists have been working overtime to shove repeal of the crude oil export ban through Congress as quickly and quietly as possible. Today’s vote is shortsighted and reckless. It brings us one step closer to higher gas prices and thousands of U.S. jobs being shipped overseas, which will make foreign economies like China’s stronger and our own weaker.”
“Americans remember gas prices of nearly $4.00 per gallon and they have no interest in seeing today’s rates creep back in that direction. These politicians may not have to worry about spending a few more cents per gallon at the pump, but small businesses and hardworking families would surely feel the pain.”
“Over the past decade, we’ve cut oil imports to America by nearly half. Repealing this policy would roll the clock back and put our energy future at greater risk by making us more dependent on foreign oil. Any Member of Congress who has extolled the virtues of achieving ‘American energy independence’ – nearly all of them – cannot in good faith support repeal.”
Allied Progress recently released a fact sheet outlining some of the potential damaging impacts of repealing the ban. A recent national survey found that a strong majority of Americans back Allied Progress’ position. In the survey, nearly 70 percent of all respondents were opposed to allowing oil and gas companies to export more U.S. oil and gas to foreign countries, including 61 percent of Republicans, 69 percent of independents, and 75 percent of Democrats.
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