THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HORNAMAN, CALTAGIRONE, CURRY, DAVIS, FABRIZIO, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GOODMAN, HARKINS, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MULLERY, MUNDY, NEUMAN, PASHINSKI, PETRARCA, READSHAW, SAMUELSON, THOMAS AND WATERS, MAY 14, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, MAY 14, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Urging the Congress of the United States to utilize findings

compiled by the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group to find

a way to reduce the price of gasoline and diesel fuel in the

United States.

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's economy is

inextricably linked to motor transportation; and

WHEREAS, Millions of Pennsylvanians rely on gasoline and

diesel fuel to power the vehicles that transport them to work,

school, recreation, religious services, medical treatment and

other destinations; and

WHEREAS, While the price of gasoline and diesel fuel

continues to rise, and oil companies continue to enjoy record

profits, working Pennsylvanians struggle to afford gasoline and

diesel fuel, along with basic needs of health care, food and

shelter; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, the largest-earning oil company reported an

annual profit of $41.1 billion, an increase of 35% over 2010;

and

WHEREAS, In 2009, hearings held by Congress investigating the

causes of record-high fuel prices failed to produce an adequate

national strategy to address the factors controlling those

prices; and

WHEREAS, Despite Congress passing the toughest efficiency

standards for cars and trucks in history and opening millions of

new acres for oil exploration in the United States, and with

dependence on imported oil dropping below 50% in 2010 for the

first time in more than a decade, gas prices have continued to

rise more than 12% higher than a year ago; and

WHEREAS, It is projected that the national average of the

price of gasoline could peak as high as $4.25 per gallon in the

Spring of 2012; and

WHEREAS, Volatile fuel prices make it nearly impossible for

business and governmental bodies to create budgets and plan

future operations; and

WHEREAS, In April 2011, with the recommendation of President

Obama, the United States Attorney General formed the Oil and Gas

Price Fraud Working Group, which is exploring whether there is

any evidence of manipulation of oil and gas prices, collusion,

fraud or misrepresentation at the retail or wholesale levels

that violates Federal or state laws and brings harm to consumers

and the Federal Government as purchasers of oil and gas; and

WHEREAS, The Working Group also evaluates developments in the

commodities markets and examines investor practices, supply and

demand factors and the role of speculators and index traders in

oil futures markets; and

WHEREAS, The United States economy will continue to suffer if

gasoline and diesel fuel prices continue to be volatile;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United

States to use the information compiled by the Oil and Gas Price

Fraud Working Group to identify the market forces controlling

gasoline and diesel fuel prices, as well as the factors that

prevent the United States from recovering from the economic

damage of those volatile fuel prices and to make the changes

necessary, legislative or otherwise, in the operations of those

markets to address the problems, lower the price of gas and

diesel fuel and work toward a real solution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the presiding officers of each house of Congress and each member

of Congress from Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the

following members of Congress at the following addresses:

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Chairman Fred Upton

2125 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Ranking Member Henry Waxman

2322-A Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and 

Transportation

Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV

531 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and

Transportation

Ranking Member Kay Bailey Hutchinson

284 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510