The House of Representatives passed a bill that removes the Biden administration’s pause on liquified natural gas (LNG) exports.
The “Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act” passed by a vote of 224-200, with nine Democrats voting with Republicans.
H.R. 7176 removes the Department of Energy from the process of reviewing LNG export applications, handing oversight authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released a statement on the bill, saying, “The President’s decision to impose a ban on new permits for clean U.S. liquefied natural gas exports puts the interests of radical environmentalists ahead of the best interests of the United States and its allies. This ban will harm the American economy, jeopardize good paying jobs, weaken U.S. energy security, and threaten the security of our allies.”
“I applaud the passage of H.R. 7176, led by Rep. Pfluger, to immediately reverse President Biden’s ban and protect America’s economic and national security, and that of our allies.”
Similarly, Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (R-OK) and House Energy Action Team (HEAT) Chairman Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) said, “President Biden’s politically-motivated ban on American LNG exports is a monumental mistake that benefits our adversaries and dirty global polluters like Iran and Russia. Unleashing U.S. LNG exports means more American jobs, a more secure world for America and our allies, and lower emissions. The Senate should immediately take up this legislation to improve global security, create American jobs, and help our allies.”
The bill’s passage was also praised by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). “When America leads the world in producing and exporting energy, America’s economy is strengthened, its security is ensured, and all our allies benefit as well. However, since his first day in office, President Biden has targeted our domestic energy producers and actively undermined America’s efforts to be energy independent,” Johnson said in a statement. “The President’s most recent decision – to pause pending natural gas export terminals – is a setback to American workers and our overseas partners, and a victory for Vladimir Putin and radical climate activists.”
He added that the bill unleashes “American energy producers from the bonds of Biden’s subversive bureaucratic overreach.”
The White House declared that it “strongly opposes” the bill’s passage.
In January, the Biden administration announced that it temporarily paused decisions for pending and future applications for the exportation of LNG in an effort to combat climate change.
“In every corner of the country and the world, people are suffering the devastating toll of climate change. Historic hurricanes and floods wiping out homes, businesses, and houses of worship. Wildfires destroying whole neighborhoods and forcing families to leave their communities behind. Record temperatures affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans, especially the most vulnerable,” read a statement from the White House.
The statement added that the Biden administration has put a “temporary pause on pending decisions of Liquefied Natural Gas exports – with the exception of unanticipated and immediate national security emergencies. During this period, we will take a hard look at the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America’s energy security, and our environment. This pause on new LNG approvals sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.”
