Washington, D.C. - While a House committee today grills energy company executives about the reasons for high oil prices, U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady says Congressional leaders themselves are to blame for higher prices at the pump.

“This new Congress is to blame for driving the price of energy through the roof, which hurts middle-class Americans trying to make ends meet,” said Brady. “It’s bad enough that House Democrats have failed to require America to take on more responsibility for its own energy needs here at home, and just as bad we are continuing to lock off American resources along our coasts and in Alaska. What is unconscionable is that Washington politicians have taken politically-motivated steps to punish U.S. energy companies for exploring oil and gas rights here in America. Why are we outsourcing American energy jobs and production? How does that lower prices?”

Brady notes, “High world oil prices reflect the new reality that stable governments, like America, refuse to be part of the solution; leaving much of the world’s oil and gas reserves in the hands of unstable governments like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. As a result, Americans are now paying $1 dollar more at the pump because this new Congress would rather assault American energy workers and companies rather than address serious, long-term solutions.”

“Fuel prices at the pump would be a lot lower if this new Congress spent less time threatening to sue OPEC or promoting longer-lasting light bulbs, and more time addressing the supply and demand of world energy today.”

In addition to conservation and acceleration of new energy technology to the marketplace, Brady supports increasing production of traditional energy here in America, while the nation develops new sources of renewable energy.

Nearly 85 percent of America’s coast is blocked from energy exploration, as is the energy rich preserve in Alaska set aside specifically for oil and gas production. The federal government has ruled “off-limits” enough U.S. oil and natural gas to equal eight years of crude oil imports from foreign countries.

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From his seat on the House Ways & Means Committee, Congressman Brady has fought increased taxes on U.S. energy production and research.