Roundtable: Holding Big Oil Accountable for Extortion, Collusion, and Pollution

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 17:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Democrats will host a roundtable discussion with expert panelists titled, “Holding Big Oil Accountable for Extortion, Collusion, and Pollution.”

A recent Federal Trade Commission complaint and multiple class action lawsuits allege that Big Oil has colluded with OPEC to pad their profits by raising energy prices for Americans. This price-gouging adds to the hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies Big Oil already receives annually through direct tax breaks and by passing along health and environmental cleanup costs to taxpayers and communities.

Meanwhile, House Republicans continue to put polluters over people, pushing additional handouts and giveaways for the fossil fuel industry, many of which mirror proposals in Trump’s Project 2025. Former President Trump also recently requested $1 billion in campaign contributions from Big Oil executives, promising to roll back environmental regulations, fast-track fossil fuel project permitting, and enhance tax breaks even further.

Roundtable panelists will discuss these issues, the impacts on American communities, and how Congress can support the American people by holding Big Oil accountable for its extortion, collusion, and pollution.

Members:
  • Vice Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.)
Panelists:
  • Kristina Karlsson, Deputy Director of Climate Policy, Roosevelt Institute
  • Alex Witt, Senior Advisor on Oil & Gas, Climate Power
  • Bekah Hinojosa, Co-Founder, South Texas Environmental Justice Network
  • Chris Marshall, Director, Energy & Environment Program, Accountable.US