Highway Users Lead Call for Increased Oil Supply

WASHINGTON, -- The American Highway Users Alliance (Highway Users) today called for Congress and the President to enact a comprehensive energy policy that includes more oil supply. Today, the Highway Users hosted diverse consumer and business associations at an event where the groups called on Congress to approve more access to domestic resources and encourage the production and use of oil from Canada, a friendly and highly reliable trading partner.

"Motorists, truckers, bus companies and recreational travelers are being hurt by the high cost of gas at the pump, which is a direct result of the current price of crude oil," said Greg Cohen, President and CEO of the Highway Users. "Congress must come together, overcome partisanship, and increase the supply of oil so that these prices can come down. Americans are hurting enough!"

Cohen was joined at a news conference today in Washington by the American Trucking Associations, National Defense Council Foundation, The National Grange and the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.

The speakers also called on political candidates of both parties to pledge to work together to increase all sources of energy to lower fuel prices and make America more economically secure.

"The current energy crisis is causing serious pain for our members and the public as-a-whole," said Cohen. "The situation is threatening jobs and America's competitiveness in the global economy. While we support increased efficiency and more conservation, there is no getting around the fact that our country is feeling the harmful effects of tight energy supplies."

Congress must act to open access to plentiful domestic oil supplies on the outer continental shelf and on federal lands in Western states. Modern engineering techniques would be employed to protect the environment as drilling proceeds.

"We would not be in this situation if Congress would have allowed more drilling years ago," said Cohen. "Unfortunately, it has taken $4 a gallon gasoline for them to get talking about it. Let's put words into action and get it right this time. We cannot afford to wait until gasoline is $10 a gallon."

The American Highway Users Alliance represents motorists, RV enthusiasts, truckers, bus companies, motorcyclists, and a broad cross-section of businesses that depend on safe and efficient highways to transport their families, customers, employees, and products. Highway Users members pay the taxes that finance the federal highway program and advocate public policies that dedicate those taxes to improved highway safety and mobility.