A provision within the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act that lifts the decades-old ban on crude oil exports was applauded by U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) on Friday.
“Lifting the 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports will create thousands more good-paying Louisiana jobs by allowing us to compete globally and undercut our enemies,” Scalise said. “Not only will scrapping this outdated relic of the 1970s allow hard-working taxpayers to compete on the world market, create hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the nation, and lower prices at the pump — it will also strengthen America’s national security by letting our allies buy energy directly from us, and not from countries like Russia and Iran. Lifting the ban has been among my top priorities in 2015, and today’s vote is a big win for Louisiana and for conservative principles. I’m honored to have used my seat at the House leadership table to bring this issue to the forefront and help it get signed into law.”
Scales has pushed for the reversal of the crude oil export ban all year, saying that the ban is holding back the U.S. economy. He added that the U.S. has an abundance of oil and can be a world supplier. The U.S., he said, has more than enough oil to meet not only the needs of the nation but also the needs of its allies around the world.
“This critical piece of legislation prioritizes national defense while taking money away from radical agencies like the EPA,” Young said. “In addition to strengthening our military, this bill also ends fraud in the visa waiver program by implementing reforms that will block ISIS recruits from exploiting loopholes in this program. The House is doing everything in our power to keep American families safe.”