Kuster Presses Oil Company Executives on New Hampshire Gas Prices, American Energy Independence

Statement

Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, confronted big oil company executives on their business practices and the fossil fuel industry's role in rising gas prices. During the subcommittee hearing entitled, "Gouged at the Gas Station: Big Oil and America's Pain at the Pump," Kuster pressed oil company representatives about achieving long-term American energy independence through clean and renewable energy production to protect consumers from short-term crises.

"One bad year does not excuse the practice of ripping off American consumers -- we cannot allow big oil CEOs to use 2020 as an excuse for price gouging at the gas pump today, especially when these corporations laid off more than 60,000 workers but paid out billions of dollars to shareholders during the worst of the pandemic," said Rep. Kuster. "Today, I pushed six top oil executives for answers about their business practices and rising gas prices. In New Hampshire, Granite Staters are paying even more than the national average for a gallon of gas while oil companies boost their bottom lines and CEOs line their pockets."

"The recent rise in gas prices has once again made it abundantly clear that our nation's dependence on oil is unsustainable both in the short-term and long-term," Rep. Kuster continued. "While consumers are being pinched at the pump, oil companies and their top executives have been raking in enormous profits without investing in domestic production. It's time we promote long-term American energy independence through investments in clean and renewable energy to insulate our economy and consumers from these short-term crises."

During the hearing, Kuster questioned:

David Lawler, Chairman and President, bp America, Inc.
Michael K. Wirth, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chevron Corporation
Richard E. Muncrief, President and Chief Executive Officer, Devon Energy Corporation
Darren W. Woods, Chief Executive Officer, ExxonMobil Corporation
Scott D. Sheffield, Chief Executive Officer, Pioneer Natural Resources Company
Gretchen Watkins, President, Shell USA, Inc.

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Agriculture Committee, Rep. Kuster is a key force in Congress for advancing clean energy legislation. Last year, Kuster cosponsored the Electric Vehicles for Underserved Communities Act, legislation directing the Department of Energy to expand access to EV charging in underserved communities by establishing an Electric Vehicle Charging Equity Program to create 200,000 charging stations nationwide in underserved communities by 2030.

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