Washington, D.C. — The House of Representatives today passed legislation that will put pressure on OPEC to increase oil production as well as petition the Clinton-Gore Administration to outline its negotiations with the oil producing nations. Representative Chris Smith (NJ-4), who is a sponsor of the legislation, said he was pleased with its passage.
    
“Our bill, the “Oil Price Reduction Act of 2000" will require the Clinton-Gore Administration to make available, in detail, a report to Congress describing the current diplomatic negotiations between OPEC and the White House,” said Smith. “By requiring an ongoing accountability report, this will force the Administration to put more pressure on these oil exporting countries to increase production,” said Smith.

“Skyrocketing gas prices are adding yet another financial burden on the hardworking people of New Jersey, and the Clinton-Gore Administration has done nothing effective to alleviate this financial strain,” said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4). “Over a month ago, I called upon the Clinton-Gore Administration and Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson to draw crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves. Since that time, the price of regular gasoline has surged 18 cents per gallon to the highest price ever,” added Smith.

Smith said that the U.S. is experiencing the lowest production of domestic oil since before World War II and importing more than ever, yet the Clinton-Gore administration has done nothing to increase domestic crude oil production.  The Energy Department predicts gas prices could reach the $1.75 to $1.80 a gallon price range during the peak driving summer months. 

“It is time the Clinton-Gore Administration gets tough with OPEC and end the skyrocketing gas prices that are strapping New Jersey’s families and businesses,” said Smith “America’s families and truckers cannot be held hostage by these out of control gas prices. Rising gas prices hit the people who can least afford it the hardest. New Jersey’s owner-operators work long hours for modest wages, and yet they are forced to spend hundreds of dollars more for fuel each week than they did before. Many truckers have been forced to stop driving all together just because they can’t afford to stay on the road. These fuel prices are simply unacceptable and must come down at once,” said Smith.