Lawmaker wants list of companies exporting US oil

With gasoline and crude oil prices at record highs, a U.S. lawmaker wants the Commerce Department to release the names of American companies that are shipping U.S. petroleum products to other countries.

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon -- often a critic of big oil firms -- says information on the 268 million barrels of U.S. petroleum products exported in 2004 is needed as Congress considers a broad energy bill.

He sent a letter on Monday to Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez asking for the list of oil companies after the department's Census Bureau, which tracks petroleum exports, refused to provide the data.

"Information about the export of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels as well as other petroleum products out of the U.S. is directly relevant to the coming Congressional debate on how to address our nation's dependence on imports of oil and other petroleum products," Wyden said in his letter.
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