119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7061


To amend the Natural Gas Act to require that a certification issued by the Secretary of Energy be in effect in order to export natural gas to a covered nation.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 14, 2026

Ms. Elfreth (for herself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. Salazar, and Mr. Huffman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce


A BILL

To amend the Natural Gas Act to require that a certification issued by the Secretary of Energy be in effect in order to export natural gas to a covered nation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Protecting American Energy Security Act of 2026”.

SEC. 2. Certification required for exports of natural gas to covered nations.

Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(g) Certification required for certain exports.—No person shall export any natural gas from the United States to a covered nation (as such term is defined in section 4872(f) of title 10, United States Code) without having in effect, in addition to an order authorizing such export issued under subsection (a), a certification issued by the Secretary of Energy that such export would be in the public interest. Upon issuance, such a certification shall be in effect for a period of one year unless the Secretary of Energy revokes the certification prior to the conclusion of such period.”.