Securing America's Future Energy

SAFE Applauds Unanimous Passage of Ohio House OPEC Resolution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bridget Bartol | 202.461.2361 | bbartol@secureenergy.org

Washington, D.C.—Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) commended the Ohio House of Representatives for its unanimous 89-0 passage today of House Concurrent Resolution 16 (HCR 16), which calls on President Trump and Congress to create an Energy Security Commission to understand how the actions of OPEC and other petrostates impact America’s interests.

SAFE President and CEO Robbie Diamond said, “Despite being home to significant energy resources, Ohio’s oil producers have suffered due to the influence that OPEC and petrostates like Russia have on the global oil market. The impact of their actions, including the 2014 price collapse that was partly driven by OPEC’s behavior, show us what can happen if this influence is left unchecked.”

HCR 16, sponsored by Ohio State Representative Andy Thompson (R-95), calls on Congress for the passage of H.R. 545, the U.S. Commission on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Act. This commission would help American policymakers better understand OPEC’s impact by establishing a panel to assess the group’s effects on American economic and national security interests. The commission would subsequently propose a range of policy responses. If Congress does not act, the resolution calls for an energy security commission to be established through executive order.

This action follows the recent passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 (SCR 14)—identical to HCR 16—which was introduced by State Senator Frank Hoagland and passed unanimously 30-0 by the Ohio state Senate on November 29.

“We need to support long-term policies that will strengthen our energy and economic security by reducing our reliance on OPEC nations and other petrostates that engage in market manipulation. We must instead focus on policies that support increased domestic production while concurrently making strides to provide fuel choice and fuel efficiency here at home,” Diamond said. “SAFE hopes the passage of HCR 16 and SCR14 will send a timely and important message to Washington, D.C. on this critical energy issue. We thank Rep. Thompson for his leadership on this issue and this resolution.”

In addition to SAFE, the following state organizations support SCR 14 and HCR 16: The Columbus Partnership, the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, the Appalachia Chapter of the National Association of Royalty Owners, the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance, and the National Stripper Well Association.

Similar resolutions initiated by SAFE have been introduced in Pennsylvania. SR 236 and HR 592 are intended to help protect our economic and national security interests and are now pending consideration in the Pennsylvania State House.

 

About Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE)

Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) is an action-oriented, nonpartisan organization that aims to reduce America’s dependence on oil. Near-total dependence on petroleum in the transportation sector undermines the nation’s economic and national security, and constrains U.S. foreign policy. To combat these threats, SAFE advocates for expanded domestic production of U.S. oil and gas resources, continued improvements in vehicle fuel efficiency, and the advancement of alternative fuels in the transportation sector including electric vehicles and natural gas trucks. In 2006, SAFE joined with General P.X. Kelley (Ret.), 28th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Frederick W. Smith, Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, to form the Energy Security Leadership Council (ESLC), a group of business and former military leaders committed to reducing the United States’ dependence on oil.

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