WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) joined House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and fellow House Energy Action Team (HEAT) members on a joint letter to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman urging him to take immediate action to bring stability – not further volatility – to global crude oil markets.

“I’ve been alarmed by the dangerous actions taken by Saudi Arabia,” said Rep. Hern. “Many of my colleagues feel the same way. While the entire world is battling the coronavirus pandemic, Saudi Arabia is manipulating the global oil market to disastrous effect here in Oklahoma, where oil and gas play a key role in our local economy. COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on nearly every industry around the world; it’s unspeakable that a supposed ally would intentionally add to that. This letter to Prince Mohammad bin Salman is a last-ditch effort, a plea for Saudi Arabia to do the right thing. I hope they do.”

The text of the letter is found below.

The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have an important strategic partnership that ensures regional stability, counters Iran’s malign activity, and defeats terrorists that threaten our security. The United States also remains committed to maintaining the strong economic ties between our two countries. We are concerned, however, with the Kingdom’s actions to artificially distort global crude oil markets as countries around the world struggle to address a growing economic and health crisis fueled by the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic.

As recently as January, the Kingdom claimed that it would do all it could to ensure stability in the global oil market. But as a result of the Kingdom’s March decision to artificially depress global crude prices, thousands of American workers employed directly by our country’s oil and gas producers, as well as thousands more employed in related industries, face increased financial and economic uncertainty. While other global actors use oil and gas markets as political leverage, the Kingdom must be a model of leadership at a time when a global pandemic drives down demand resulting in significant market volatility. In the United States, the oil and natural gas industry is based on free market principles that resist anticompetitive conduct or government manipulation of markets. The Kingdom, however, can change course, reduce production, and restore balance to a market that has seen the most drastic price drop in years.

Failure to address this energy crisis will jeopardize the joint efforts between our nations to collaborate economically and militarily. The U.S. military presence in the Middle East region has maintained the stability that provides for the economic prosperity and ensures the security of our two nations. As Members of Congress, we have rejected efforts to undermine or undo this partnership. But if the Kingdom fails to act fairly to reverse this manufactured energy crisis, we would encourage any reciprocal responses that the U.S. government deems appropriate.

Our countries share decades of deep cooperation and leadership combating and defeating existential threats. It is our hope that those characteristics that have defined our strong strategic partnership for years will continue to serve as the bedrock through this current crisis. We hope that as a global energy leader, and Chair of the G20 for 2020, the Kingdom will fulfill its promise and take immediate action to do its part to bring stability - not further volatility – to global crude oil markets.

The full letter can be found here.

The letter was signed by House Republican Whip and HEAT Co-Chair Steve Scalise (R-La.), Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), Heat Co-Chairs Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), and Reps. Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), Kevin Brady (R-Texas), Larry Buschon M.D. (R-Ind.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Michael Cloud (R-Texas), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Ron Estes (R-Kan.), Bill Flores (R-Texas), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Louis Gohmert (R-Texas), Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (R-Ariz.), Garret Graves (R-La.), Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), French Hill (R-Ariz.), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Fred Keller (R-Pa.), Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), Carol D. Miller (R-W. Va.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Pete Olson (Texas), Greg Pence (R-Ind.), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), William Timmons (R-S.C.), Scott Tipton (R-Colo.), Steve Watkins (R-Kan.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), and Don Young (R-Alaska).