(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today issued the following statement regarding recent news reports that OPEC is considering purposely cutting oil production in response to the steady fall in price of oil:
“These news reports of OPEC possibly cutting its oil production intentionally clearly illustrates that OPEC is nothing more than a cartel that tries to artificially affect oil prices for its own benefit. This fact makes another great case for increasing our own energy production.
“We cannot continue to depend on a volatile foreign market, and frankly, unfriendly foreign sources of energy.  Last month, Congress took the first step toward energy independence by not reauthorizing the Outer Continental Shelf drilling and oil shale ban, but that could all change.  We must expedite the issuance of OCS and shale exploration leases before the unreasonable environmentalists reverse this outcome next Congress or try to slow exploration down to a halt in court.
“Next Congress, I will continue to make energy independence a primary focus with a plan that allows for more domestic oil and gas production in addition to continued research and development of renewable and alternative sources of energy,” said Vitter.