“This Administration Could Not Have Made More Wrong Decisions in One Policy If They Had Actively Sought to Do So“
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WASHINGTON –
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today blasted the Biden administration for its war on American working families and U.S. allies during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing regarding the administration’s decision to freeze all pending non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permit applications. The average LNG facility job site employs 6,000 to 8,000 workers for upwards of ten years. By refusing to permit new LNG facilities, the Biden administration is directly destroying American jobs.
“This policy is a war on the American worker. I think the fourth largest project in the world right now is in South Louisiana, building an LNG export plant. And the number of jobs, good-paying jobs for people who otherwise would not have that economic opportunity, is incredible,” said Dr. Cassidy. “[T]he administration, kowtowing to their climate lobby for electoral politics, creates the uncertainty.”
Cassidy also highlighted that this policy by the administration is a war on our European allies who depend more on American LNG exports since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He raised the point that if Europe cannot get natural gas from America, they will be forced to turn to other sources, including the Iranian regime, whose proxies have been targeting American troops in the Middle East.
“Is market demand going to go away because the climate lobby decides that the administration should create uncertainty in the LNG exports? Will England and Germany still need natural gas?” continued Dr. Cassidy. “So, if the United States doesn’t provide it, the Qataris, the Iranians, and the Russians will probably provide it.”
Secretary General of Eurogas, Dr. James Watson, agreed with Cassidy that if the U.S. stops their exports, Europe will have to get their natural gas from somewhere, including our adversaries.
“I don’t get a sense that there is a clear rationale… it clearly is going to negatively impact workers in the United States, and it is clearly going to negatively impact our allies… I don’t know if the administration could have made more wrong decisions in one policy if they had actively sought to do so,” concluded Dr. Cassidy.
Background
Immediately following the Biden administration’s announcement that they would freeze pending applications for new LNG export permits, Cassidy led 25 of his Republican colleagues in sending a letter blasting the decision. He alsointroduced the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act which depoliticizes the export of American liquefied natural gas. It eliminates the requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize its exports and instead gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sole authority over the approval process.
Earlier this month, Cassidy penned an op-ed with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in the Houston Chronicle underscoring the devastating economic, environmental, and national security impacts of President Biden’s decision to freeze new LNG export projects.
In January, Cassidy questioned DOE 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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