IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 284

Expressing the sense of the Congress that members of the Organization

of Petroleum Exporting Countries should immediately increase crude

oil production in order to increase crude oil supplies and achieve stable

crude oil prices.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 15, 2000

Mr. BACHUS (for himself, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. PORTMAN,

Mr. BARCIA, Mr. BUYER, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. CRAMER,

Ms. RIVERS, Mr. MCINTYRE, and Mr. DEAL of Georgia) submitted the

following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce,

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the

committee concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that members of the

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries should

immediately increase crude oil production in order to

increase crude oil supplies and achieve stable crude oil

prices.

Whereas beginning in March 1998, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries instituted three tiers of

crude oil production cuts that reduced production by

4,300,000 barrels per day and have resulted in dramatic

increases in crude oil prices;
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Whereas these price increases are having an increasingly dramatic and negative effect on most Americans, especially

low-income individuals, the elderly, families, farmers,

truckers, manufacturers, and retailers;

Whereas the United States imports approximately 55 percent

of its crude oil; and

Whereas ensuring access to and stable prices for imported

crude oil is a critical objective of United States foreign

and economic policy: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) members of the Organization of Petroleum

4 Exporting Countries should immediately increase

5 crude oil production in order to increase crude oil

6 supplies and achieve stable crude oil prices;

7 (2) stable crude oil prices and supplies are es8 sential for strong economic growth throughout the

9 world;

10 (3) in a market that is in demand of additional

11 crude oil, nations that act to restrict the supply of

12 crude oil do serious damage to their relations with

13 the United States;

14 (4) continued diplomatic efforts by the United

15 States are necessary to convince all major crude oil

16 exporting countries that current price levels are

17 unsustainable and will cause widespread economic

18 harm;
3

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1 (5) the United States seeks friendly relations

2 with crude oil exporting countries around the world,

3 but when considering possible non-humanitarian as4 sistance or trade benefits, will note actions by these

5 countries to restrict or expand the production of

6 crude oil;

7 (6) the President should review administrative

8 policies that may put an undue burden on domestic

9 crude oil producers, and should consider rescinding

10 unnecessary regulations that interfere with the abil11 ity of the United States energy industry to meet a

12 greater percentage of the energy needs of the United

13 States; and

14 (7) the Congress and the President should work

15 together to develop policies that will reduce the de16 pendence of the United States on foreign energy

17 sources, including appropriating sufficient funds for

18 the development of alternative energy sources.

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