UPDATE 1-U.S. senators pressure Saudis to boost oil output

(Adds defense contractors, weapons, paragraphs 11-12)

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, May 13 (Reuters) - Democrats trying to pressure Saudi Arabia to boost oil output introduced legislation in the Senate on Tuesday that would stop a $1.4 billion U.S. arms sale to the kingdom.

"We are saying that we need real relief and we need it quickly. You (Saudi Arabia) need our arms, but we need you to cooperate and not strangle American consumers," said Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat.

The resolution to disapprove the Saudi arms sale the Bush administration outlined in December and January could be voted on in coming days, timed for President George W. Bush's trip to Saudi Arabia this week.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers are also scurrying in this election year to show voters they are trying to do something about rapidly rising gasoline prices.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Senate voted 97-1 to suspend oil deliveries to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to put more oil onto the market and slightly lower the price at the pump. The House of Representatives was expected to pass the measure later in the day, despite opposition from Bush.

There was little chance the legislation killing the Saudi arms sale would prevail. If the Senate were to pass it, it still would have to be approved by the House and signed by Bush, who would oppose it.

But Senate Democrats made no secret their real motive was to pressure Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer and most influential member of OPEC, to increase output that has fallen off in recent years.