Sen. Chuck Grassley said that the Senate Judiciary Committee this week approved legislation that would let the federal government take action against price fixing by OPEC, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Grassley is an original co-sponsor of the bill, which would authorize the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to bring lawsuits against the 11 oil cartel members for antitrust violations. It would clarify that what's known as the "Act of State" doctrine would not prevent a court from ruling on antitrust charges brought against these foreign governments for engaging in illegal pricing, production and distribution of petroleum products.

"OPEC's anti-competitive activities have hurt consumers long enough. It's time the U.S. respond," Grassley said. "If the inordinate gas prices continue, they could slow the economic recovery."

OPEC members, which supply more than three-fourths of the world's crude oil reserves, announced this month that they would cut oil production by 1 million barrels a day. Grassley said this cut highlighted the importance of this legislation as well as the need to pass a comprehensive energy bill.

"These bills would give notice to OPEC that the United States is committed to lowering prices at the pump. Recent spikes have made it obvious that political leadership is needed. Unless we respond to OPEC's actions abroad and increase energy production domestically, record-high prices will continue," Grassley said.

The energy bill contains Grassley's job-creating tax incentives for ethanol, biodiesel and wind energy. It would also increase domestic production of oil, natural gas and nuclear power. It would improve our electricity transmission grid. And, it includes incentives for energy conservation.

"The energy bill is well balanced and would have an immediate impact on high energy prices," Grassley said. "The democrat filibuster against this bill is preventing consumers from reaping the benefit of lower costs."

Grassley is an original co-sponsor of the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act, or NOPEC, that was introduced by Sens. Mike DeWine of Ohio and Herb Kohl of Wisconsin.