The U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 15 voted 224-200 to pass legislation supported by U.S. Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) that aims to reverse President Joe Biden’s American liquified natural gas (LNG) export ban.
“I am proud that the House passed my legislation to promote American energy dominance and stand up for jobs in the Permian Basin,” said Rep. Pfluger, who sponsored the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024, H.R. 7176.
Removing restrictions on LNG would allow the U.S. to export more and encourage domestic production, in turn reducing American energy supply vulnerabilities, supporting the U.S. economy, and helping Europe reduce its reliance on Russian energy, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
“President Biden has used every weapon and every tool available to him to make producing American energy more difficult,” said Rep. Pfluger, chairman of the Republican Study Committee’s House Energy Action Team. “His decision to ban future U.S. LNG exports is just the latest strike in his efforts to appease his radical climate interest groups who refuse to accept the reality that American energy is the cleanest, most secure option for the U.S. and our allies.
“The decision to ban exports creates uncertainty and discourages investments that would otherwise create jobs and expand the supply of natural gas,” the congressman added.
On the House floor, prior to its vote on H.R. 7176, Rep. McMorris Rodgers agreed, saying Biden’s ban on new permits for clean U.S. LNG exports puts the United States and its allies at a disadvantage.
“American LNG has been a lifeline, especially our European allies since Russia invaded Ukraine. Since the invasion, American LNG has helped them reduce their natural gas prices by over 83 percent and reduce their dependence on Russia,” she said. “President Biden’s ban sends a signal to our allies that we’re no longer a dependable energy partner. This is unacceptable.”
Following the House vote, which advanced the bill to the U.S. Senate, Rep. McMorris Rodgers applauded the passage of H.R. 7176 “to immediately reverse President Biden’s ban and protect America’s economic and national security, and that of our allies.”