HEAT Leaders: House Republicans Just Melted Biden's LNG Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, leaders of the Republican Study Committee’s (RSC) House Energy Action Team (HEAT) applauded House passage of RSC Chairman Pfluger’s Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.
The legislation comes at a pivotal time to ensure that no future president can impose a de facto ban on liquefied natural gas (LNG), such as the Biden Administration implemented.
“Today's House passage of my Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act is another major victory in achieving American energy dominance. My legislation reforms the broken, politically weaponized approval process so we can streamline permitting for exporting LNG once and for all. It's simple: Exporting American LNG strengthens our economy, stabilizes prices, drives much-needed investment in energy infrastructure, and bolsters the energy security of our global partners. I thank my colleagues for supporting this critical legislation, and I urge its swift passage in the Senate under Senator Scott's strong leadership,” said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11).
“House Republicans and President Trump remain firm in our commitment to lowering costs for families and restoring American energy dominance. Representing communities atop the Utica and Marcellus shale formations, I’ve seen firsthand how natural gas development strengthens our economy and our national security. Rep. Pfluger’s Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act will streamline the permitting process and unleash America’s full energy potential,” said RSC HEAT Chair Troy Balderson (OH-12).
“Under the previous administration, we watched an indefensible freeze on LNG export permits. It was a blockade that put our economy at risk and weakened our global security. It was wrong for Texas, wrong for America, and wrong for our allies working to break free from Russian gas,” said RSC HEAT Vice Chair Randy Weber (TX-14). “The Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act puts an end to it and gets America back on track.”
Background on H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act:
In January 2024, the Biden Administration announced an indefinite ban on the issuance of export permits to non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries while it conducted a review to consider the climate impact of natural gas.
The Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act will ensure that no future president or administration can weaponize the Department of Energy (DOE) and unilaterally shut down LNG exports ever again.
The bill also provides that FERC shall have the exclusive authority to approve or deny any application for the siting, construction, expansion or operation of a facility to export natural gas from the U.S. to a foreign country or import natural gas from a foreign country, including an LNG terminal.