WASHINGTON – U.S. SenatorBill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Scott (R-SC), and 15 Republican colleagues introduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, which depoliticizes the export of American liquefied natural gas (LNG). It eliminates the requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize its export and instead giving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sole authority over the approval process. The legislation comes days after President Biden handed a major victory to both Vladimir Putin and far-left climate activists by pausing approvals of pending applications for LNG exports.
“Biden’s political freeze on LNG export permits hurts American energy, American workers, the environment, and our allies who depend upon us for their energy and economic security,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This bill repeals the freeze and takes politics out of permitting. It helps get us back on track to reap the energy, economic, environmental, and national security benefits associated with American LNG.”
“President Biden’s move to halt American energy exports is pure politics. In fact, exporting U.S. natural gas would actually lower global emissions,” said Senator Scott. “President Biden is dead set on bowing to the far-left and making the U.S. and our allies more reliant on foreign adversaries like Russia. Instead, I’m fighting to unleash America’s abundant natural resources, bolster our energy independence and safeguard our national security.”
Cassidy and Scott were joined by U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Kennedy (R-LA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and John Thune (R-SD).
Immediately following the Biden administration’s announcement that they would be freezing pending applications for LNG export permitting, Cassidy led 25 of his Republican colleagues in sending a letter blasting the decision. The president’s anti-energy decision is a major blow to American energy independence and will only increase global reliance on Russia and other bad actors around the world. Our European allies, who have become increasingly reliant on the U.S. for LNG following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, will now be forced to decide between depriving their citizens of energy or actively funding Putin.
Earlier this month, Cassidy questioned Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk on the rumors surrounding this decision and emphasized the energy, economic, environmental, and national security importance of U.S. LNG exports.
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