Cassidy, Rounds seek passage of bill to hasten U.S. natural gas exports to allies

U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) called on leaders in both houses of Congress to swiftly approve their bill authorizing expedited approval of applications to export natural gas to certain allies of the United States.

“Oil from Russia accounts for 4 percent of total U.S. consumption. We continue to line the pockets of Putin as he wages war on Ukraine. This has to stop!” Sen. Rounds tweeted on March 1. “It’s time to ramp up American energy production and end the U.S. and European dependence on Putin’s energy.”

Sen. Rounds and Sen. Cassidy on Feb. 16 cosponsored the Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act, S. 3661, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to help America’s European allies and partners end their dependence on Russian natural gas, according to a joint statement all three lawmakers released on Feb. 28.

“Putin’s war in Ukraine is showing us the damning consequences of Europe’s dependence on Russia for natural gas,” the senators said in their joint statement. “American natural gas is cleaner, creates U.S. jobs, and strengthens U.S. and allies’ national security.”

“If we want to hit Putin’s energy profits, our legislation gives the United States that leverage,” they added. “There is no time to waste. Congress must pass the Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act.”

S. 3661 is currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.