U.S. Senate Votes to Protect Welfare for Big Oil

Media Contacts
Nathan Willcox

Environment America

The U.S. Senate voted last night to protect billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies for the five largest oil companies in the United States.  Environment America Policy Analyst Daniel Gatti issued this statement in response:

“Last night, 52 members of the United States Senate chose to side with Big Oil over our environment, our public health, and our national security. 

“It is absurd for the United States to continue to provide billions of dollars in handouts to Big Oil.  The oil industry is one of the most environmentally destructive industries in the world.  Oil is the number one source of global warming pollution, one of the largest sources of toxic air pollution that cause millions of asthma attacks and thousands of preventable deaths every year, and oil drilling threatens our coasts with disasters on the scale of the BP oil spill last year.  Moreover, with the average family forking over $2,800 to Big Oil this year for gasoline, they do not need additional welfare from the government.

“These taxpayer handouts encourage more drilling, spilling and pollution and are especially outrageous at a time of drastic budget cuts that will have devastating consequences for our public health and our environment. The fact that these subsidies remain is a testimony to the absurd priorities of Big Oil’s allies in Congress, who are more interested in enriching their corporate sponsors than enacting serious energy policies that will reduce pollution, save consumers money, and get us off oil.

“Ending taxpayer handouts to oil companies is a critical first step, but it will not stop the pain that Americans are experiencing at the pump, nor the devastating environmental consequences of our addiction to oil. The next step is to invest in clean energy technologies that help our families deal with the oil crisis through high-tech vehicles, public transportation, and clean energy investments that can put this country on the path to getting off oil for good.