U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, Apr 30 - Today, Congressman John Sullivan, Vice Chairman of the Energy and Power Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in response to EPA Region 6 Administrator Al Armendariz’s announcement that he would be resigning effectively today. Mr. Armendariz’s resignation comes after a 2010 video recently surfaced of remarks he made, in which he endorsed a “general philosophy” of EPA to “crucify” and “make examples” of oil and gas companies. In addition, Congressman Sullivan, along with members of the House Energy and Commerce and House Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter last Friday to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, calling for his dismissal. Click here to view the official signed copy.

“I am pleased to hear that Mr. Armendariz will be resigning after publicly expressing such hostility and political prejudice towards oil and gas companies – an industry that employs over 300,000 Oklahomans in my state. This blatant, political bias is completely unacceptable behavior from a government official charged with regulating this critical industry. The Obama Administration’s refusal to fire Mr. Armendariz is proof that they are out of touch with the American people when it comes to developing a national energy policy.

While I support Mr. Armendariz’s decision to resign, I also challenge the EPA to go even further to root out this troubling trend of hostility toward oil and gas production, in order to achieve our goal of powering our nation with affordable and stable sources of American-made energy.”