Cramer: Opec Commission Will Ensure Greater National Energy Security

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer hosted a meeting this week with General James Conway (Ret.) and Members of Congress to encourage support for H.R. 4559, the United States Commission on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Act of 2016.

Cramer is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4559, along with Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ). The bill creates a commission to investigate whether OPEC's anti-competitive action as a cartel to manipulate global oil supplies is designed to disadvantage American oil producers. The commission would assess the impact of OPEC's policies on U.S. economic and energy security interest, including on innovation in both energy production and the transportation of foods and people.

Conway is a co-chair of the Energy Security Leadership Council of the Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), a non-profit organization committed to improving U.S. economic and national security through reduced oil dependence. The former senior operations officer on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Conway was also the principal advisor on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to the President, the National Security Council and the Secretary of Defense. He commanded 90,000 British and U.S. forces during the invasion of Iraq.

"I speak for a number of four-star generals who support the concept of this bill," Conway said. "We have seen how American servicemen and women have carried the burden of securing oil supply lines around the world to protect the steady flow of oil to fuel the United States economy."

Conway said an OPEC Commission established with the passage of H.R. 4559 will give the country valuable insight into the global oil market and how the United States can best defend itself from adverse impacts of decisions made by OPEC members and other national oil companies. "This is an incredibly important debate, especially considering America's military spends $67.5 billion a year to safeguard global oil supplies."

Cramer believes a benefit of passing H.R. 4559 is to ensure greater national energy security through more stable oil prices. "The same supply manipulation that has created a price collapse has been and will be used to drive prices sky high again," Cramer said. "The normal cycles of commodity prices are volatile enough without cartels manipulating them."

Cramer has an extensive background in energy regulation and development, serving nearly 10 years on the North Dakota Public Service Commission during the dynamic development period of the Bakken oilfield. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and introduced the Keystone Pipeline Bill at the beginning of this Congress. He also played a lead role in passage of lifting the crude oil export ban last December.

Source