Casey Pushes Bill to Enable Crackdown on OPEC for Conspiring to Hike Gas Prices

Bipartisan Casey-Backed Effort Would Close Legal Loophole and Allow DOJ To File Antitrust Case Against OPEC for Price Fixing

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today pushed Congress to pass legislation to close a loophole that prevents the Department of Justice from bringing suit against OPEC for price fixing, a major cause of rising gas prices in Pennsylvania. The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act would help prevent hikes in gas prices by ensuring gas prices are determined by the free market, not by countries conspiring to raise prices.

“The United States cannot sit idly by while other nations conspire to raise the price of our gas,” said Senator Casey. “This bill will give us essential tools to crack down on price fixing, and I will continue to fight for every possible strategy to keep gas prices in check.”

Senator Casey has been fighting for strategies to bring gas prices down. Last week, he sent a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission demanding an end to bureaucratic delays that are preventing a crackdown on speculation in the oil markets. 

He has also been fighting against closures of refineries in southeastern Pennsylvania that will likely lead to price hikes in the northeastern U.S.

Senator Casey highlighted the increase of gas prices over the same time last year in every region of Pennsylvania as a call to action. Today’s average gas prices by region are below:

Source: AAA Fuel Gauge Report

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