[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REINTRODUCTION OF THE ENERGIZING AMERICAN SHIPBUILDING ACT OF 2023

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 2023

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. Speaker, today I reintroduce the ``Energizing 
American Shipbuilding Act'' with U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-MS). I 
thank U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and Congressmen Robert 
J. Wittman (R-VA) and Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) for their support as 
the original cosponsors.
  Our bipartisan bill would help to recapitalize America's domestic 
shipbuilding and maritime industries by requiring that increasing 
percentages of exported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil be 
transported on U.S.-built, flagged, and crewed vessels. In total, our 
bill would require that 15 percent of total seaborne LNG exports by 
2045 and 10 percent of total seaborne crude oil exports by 2037 be on 
U.S. vessels. This would result in the construction of more than 40 
American ships: approximately 28 LNG carriers by 2045 and 12 oil 
tankers by 2037. This will support thousands of new, well-paying jobs 
in American shipyards, vessel component manufacturers, and across the 
U.S. maritime industry.
  As President Vladimir Putin's unconscionable invasion of Ukraine has 
shown, continental Europe's overreliance on imported Russian oil and 
gas is both untenable and dangerous. While I support the global 
transition away from fossil fuels to fight the climate crisis, I also 
support increasing American energy exports to Europe to replace Russian 
imports in the near term. Unless Congress acts, all U.S. seaborne LNG 
and crude oil exports will be on foreign-flagged vessels, operated by 
foreign crews.
  In 1995, Congress required that crude oil exported from Alaska's 
North Slope be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels to preserve the 
tanker fleet essential to our national defense. The ``Energizing 
American Shipbuilding Act'' would implement a similar requirement. The 
vessels built under our bill would be available to meet the U.S. 
military's sealift and supply needs around the globe.
  I am deeply troubled that our military, namely the Defense Logistics 
Agency, relies on foreign-owned oil tankers including state-owned 
enterprises closely linked to the Chinese government. Our bipartisan 
bill also counters other export countries' similar requirements 
including the Russian-flagged vessel requirement for arctic oil and 
natural gas exports announced by the Kremlin in December 2018.
  The United States was a net crude oil exporter in 2022 and is 
projected to become the top LNG exporting nation in the coming years. 
Exports of these two strategic national assets--LNG and crude oil--
should be on American vessels, which is exactly what our bill would 
require. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members of the House to cosponsor the 
``Energizing American Shipbuilding Act.''

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