[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E149-E150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 7176, UNLOCKING OUR DOMESTIC LNG 
                         POTENTIAL ACT OF 2024

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 14, 2024

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to 
H.R. 7176--the ``Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024.''
  This bill, H.R. 7176, would substantially weaken the federal review 
and authorization process for natural gas exports.
  Specifically, it removes the requirement under section 3(a) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) that the Department of Energy first determine 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports be in the public interest before 
approving export applications to non-free trade agreement countries.
  These determinations currently involve a review of the economic 
impacts, including potential changes to domestic natural gas and 
electricity prices on consumers and manufacturers.
  They also consider the environmental impacts of the exports.
  Finally, they consider potential effects on the security of the U.S. 
natural gas supply.
  Instead of maintaining this time-tested and reliable process, this 
bill assumes that all LNG exports are automatically in the public 
interest.
  This is reckless and irresponsible.
  By removing a crucial safeguard for American consumers, this bill 
allows our adversaries, like China, to purchase even more of our energy 
to use against us.
  Multiple analyses have found that increased LNG exports directly lead 
to higher natural gas prices here at home.
  According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial 
Analysis, LNG exports cost American consumers over $100 billion over a 
16-month period.
  Over the last five years, doubling our LNG exports has led to natural 
gas prices more than tripling in 2022.
  Expert testimony supports this conclusion as well.
  On February 7, 2023, the Subcommittees on Energy, Climate, and Grid 
Security and Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials held a 
joint legislative hearing entitled ``Unleashing American Energy, 
Lowering Energy Costs, and Strengthening Supply Chains.'' At this 
hearing, the Subcommittees heard testimony from Mr. Tyson Slocum.
  In his written testimony, Mr. Slocum detailed how increased LNG 
exports have raised costs for American consumers, and that loosening 
the approval process for LNG exports would likely further increase the 
high prices Americans pay for heating and electricity.
  Mr. Slocum also testified that increased LNG exports would further 
tie American natural gas prices to international natural gas prices, 
decreasing our economic independence and exposing Americans to 
increased gas price volatility.
  Supporting documents entered into the hearing record further 
underscored the point that a sudden decrease in U.S. LNG export 
capacity has historically resulted in a plunge in natural gas prices.
  That is not the only problem with this negligent and short-sighted 
bill.
  H.R. 1130 also eradicates existing protections that ensure American 
LNG is not being exported to rival nations against the public interest.
  According to the Energy Information Administration,13 percent of U.S. 
LNG exports went to China in 2021--that is over 450 billion cubic feet.
  As it stands, this bill is far too overinclusive to be in the best 
interest of the people.
  During both the Subcommittee and Full Committee markups, Democrats 
introduced reasonable amendments designed to address their concerns.
  However, the majority has voted down all such efforts.

[[Page E150]]

  Democrats have tried and tried again to meet Republicans in the 
middle on this.
  Instead of working with us, however, our colleagues across the aisle 
have remained entrenched.
  Instead of focusing on the welfare of our American people, they are 
attempting to pass out a giant handout to Big Oil and Gas that will 
simultaneously enrich many of our economic adversaries.
  Many of these companies already enjoy billions in taxpayer-funded 
subsidies and are taking in recordbreaking profits since Putin's 
invasion of Ukraine.
  Republicans may point out that last month, President Biden announced 
a temporary pause in the Department of Energy's (DOE) approval of LNG 
exports while DOE completes a public interest analysis.
  Importantly, however, this pause only applies to new export 
applications.
  It does not impact currently-operating export capacity or impact 
capacity that is under construction, and it does not impact capacity 
that is permitted but has not yet started construction.
  DOE's updated public interest determination is an opportunity to take 
long-overdue action to make sure additional exports are benefitting 
Americans.
  This extreme bill would kill all efforts to ensure that our LNG 
exports are in Americans' best interests.
  I will always stand behind the hardworking middleclass individuals 
that are the backbone of our society.
  As such, I urge my colleagues to do the same and vote no on this 
reckless and overbroad bill.

                          ____________________