[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 30 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H649-H659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UNLOCKING OUR DOMESTIC LNG POTENTIAL ACT OF 2024

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1009, I call 
up the bill (H.R. 7176) to repeal restrictions on the export and import 
of natural gas, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1009, the bill 
is considered read.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 7176

       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 ``Unlocking our Domestic LNG 
     Potential Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 2. ADVANCING UNITED STATES GLOBAL LEADERSHIP.

       Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking subsections (a) through (c);
       (2) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
     (a) and (b), respectively;
       (3) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c), and 
     moving such subsection after subsection (b), as so 
     redesignated;
       (4) in subsection (a), as so redesignated, by amending 
     paragraph (1) to read as follows: ``(1) The Federal Energy 
     Regulatory Commission (in this subsection referred to as the 
     `Commission') shall have the exclusive authority to approve 
     or deny an application for authorization for the siting, 
     construction, expansion, or operation of a facility to export 
     natural gas from the United States to a foreign country or 
     import natural gas from a foreign country, including an LNG 
     terminal. In determining whether to approve or deny an 
     application under this paragraph, the Commission shall deem 
     the exportation or importation of natural gas to be 
     consistent with the public interest. Except as specifically 
     provided in this Act, nothing in this Act is intended to 
     affect otherwise applicable law related to any Federal 
     agency's authorities or responsibilities related to 
     facilities to import or export natural gas, including LNG 
     terminals.''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d)(1) Nothing in this Act limits the authority of the 
     President under the Constitution, the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the National 
     Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), part B of title II 
     of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6271 et 
     seq.), the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. 4301 et 
     seq.), or any other provision of law that imposes sanctions 
     on a foreign person or foreign government (including any 
     provision of law that prohibits or restricts United States 
     persons from engaging in a transaction with a sanctioned 
     person or government), including a country that is designated 
     as a state sponsor of terrorism, to prohibit imports or 
     exports.
       ``(2) In this subsection, the term `state sponsor of 
     terrorism' means a country the government of which the 
     Secretary of State determines has repeatedly provided support 
     for international terrorism pursuant to--
       ``(A) section 1754(c)(1)(A) of the Export Control Reform 
     Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4318(c)(1)(A));
       ``(B) section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2371);
       ``(C) section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2780); or
       ``(D) any other provision of law.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill shall be debatable for 1 hour, 
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on Energy and Commerce or their respective designees.
  The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 7176.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from South Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our 
Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. I am a proud cosponsor of this 
legislation, which my friend and colleague from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), 
has introduced.
  Since day one, President Biden has issued executive orders and given 
direction to the Federal agencies across the government to shut down 
American energy production, even at the expense of jobs, economic 
development, national security, and the climate. President Biden's 
decision to ban LNG exports in an election year is putting politics 
over people.
  Let's be clear. The Biden administration does not appear to be 
against all

[[Page H650]]

oil and gas production--just American energy.
  They begged OPEC to increase production, and they are turning a blind 
eye to Russia. Russia is exporting 40 percent more LNG to Europe today 
than it was before the invasion of Ukraine. Russia's energy exports are 
funding its war against Ukraine, padding the pockets of Vladimir Putin.
  The reality is that global demand for natural gas is expected to 
increase 46 percent by 2050, and our European and Asian allies who want 
to do business with the United States of America now have to look to 
Qatar or to Russia or even to Iran to meet their growing energy needs.
  LNG exports strengthen America's energy security, create jobs, and 
decrease energy prices here at home through American production.
  U.S. LNG exports could support up to 452,000 additional American jobs 
and add up to $73 billion in the U.S. economy by 2040.
  This bill will help deliver affordable, reliable, and cleaner burning 
American energy to Americans, create jobs, and strengthen our global 
leadership.
  Let's vote to unlock our domestic LNG potential.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 7176. This bill is 
nothing more than a handout to Big Oil and Gas that will enrich our 
adversaries, including China, and force American families to pay the 
price with higher energy bills.
  It removes a requirement that the Department of Energy first 
determine liquefied natural gas exports should be in the public 
interest before approving export applications.
  This defies logic. The Republican bill assumes that all LNG exports 
are automatically in the public interest. This is utterly absurd 
considering there is widespread consensus among researchers and 
economists that increasing LNG exports directly leads to higher natural 
gas prices here at home.
  Americans know this reality all too well because they have felt it 
firsthand. Our LNG exports quadrupled over the last 5 years. During 
that same time, in 2022, natural gas prices more than tripled.
  Make no mistake: If this bill ever becomes law, Americans will pay 
more for the gas that heats their homes and keeps their lights on.
  It is an affront to middle-class families who can't afford to deal 
with more fossil fuel price volatility. They are tired of our energy 
prices being manipulated by our adversaries simply because Republicans 
are in a mad rush to send it all abroad.
  Now Republicans also claim to be tough on China. I hear this every 
day in the Energy and Commerce Committee. We have to be tough on China.
  This bill is a gift to China. In 2021, China was the second-largest 
recipient of American LNG, and Chinese LNG purchasers have continued to 
snap up any long-term deal they can from American exporters.
  By removing the requirement that our exports be in America's best 
interests, this bill would allow China and other adversaries to 
purchase even more of our energy to use against us.
  Thankfully, the Biden administration is taking a different approach, 
one that prioritizes the needs of the American people rather than Big 
Oil and Gas.
  Last month, the administration announced a temporary pause on new LNG 
export authorizations while the Department of Energy confirms that they 
are in Americans' interests.
  This is just common sense. Before we send our energy resources 
abroad, it is only right that we first confirm that doing so will 
benefit Americans.
  Anyone who says this pause is a ban on LNG exports is also peddling 
in blatant disinformation. The temporary pause does not affect current 
exports and does not affect exports from facilities that are under 
construction. It doesn't even affect exports from facilities that 
haven't begun construction but are fully permitted.
  If the Department of Energy never approved another permit, our LNG 
exports are still on track to triple from now until the end of the 
decade, more than enough to ensure Europe gets all the gas that it 
needs.
  I note how ridiculous it is to have the same Republicans who refuse 
to support aid for Ukraine lecture us on being good allies.
  House Democrats are demanding that the House vote on legislation that 
has now passed the Senate that would provide funding to ensure Ukraine 
can continue to protect its democracy from Russia's unprovoked war of 
aggression.
  In stark contrast, House Speaker Johnson is shamefully blocking this 
urgent national security funding, siding with pro-Putin extreme 
Republicans.
  If House Republicans want to be good allies, they should join us in 
demanding a vote on that critical national security funding.
  Mr. Speaker, ensuring that LNG exports are in the American people's 
best interest is something we should all want. Instead, we are here 
considering a bill that does the opposite for a third time because 
Republicans are fresh out of ideas and resorting to bringing up old, 
tired bills that stand no chance of ever becoming law.

                              {time}  1230

  Time and again they have proven completely dysfunctional and 
incapable of governing, and, in fact, they are making us vote on this 
same bill for a third time. Certainly, that is a testament to their 
inability to get things done. With nothing else to bring to the floor, 
they want to distract from reality that they have achieved nothing to 
improve the lives of the American people.
  This is just another Republican bill that puts polluters over people, 
and I, therefore, encourage my colleagues to oppose it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the third time is the charm. Let's get it 
done.
  House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have focused 
on four main components: produce, deliver, utilize, and export.
  Produce the abundant resources we have in this country.
  Deliver those resources through pipelines, the need for pipeline 
permitting reform and buildout infrastructure.
  Utilize resources to provide reliable, affordable, and clean energy 
for Americans.
  Export to help our friends and allies around the globe to lower their 
carbon emissions and meet their energy needs, especially in Europe 
where they faced the invasion from Vladimir Putin into Ukraine.
  They had a reality check on energy. They looked west to the United 
States to export more. We can do it, and we need to do it through LNG 
exports.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce 
Committee.
  Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support today of 
H.R. 7176, the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024, introduced 
by my friend Representative August Pfluger.
  President Biden's decision to impose a ban on issuing permits to 
export natural gas is just the latest example of his administration 
caving to environmental activists and putting politics over the 
American people.
  This ban will harm the American economy, jeopardize good-paying jobs, 
weaken our energy security, and it threatens the security of our 
friends and allies.
  America has become the number one producer and exporter of liquefied 
natural gas in the world. It has strengthened our economy, reduced 
costs for the American people, and enabled the United States to lead in 
reducing emissions more than any other nation, both here at home and 
abroad.
  American LNG has been a lifeline, especially to our friends and 
European allies since Russia invaded Ukraine.
  Since the invasion, American LNG has helped them reduce their natural 
gas prices by over 83 percent and reduce their dependence on Russia.
  President Biden's ban sends a signal to our allies that we are no 
longer a dependable energy partner. This is unacceptable.
  H.R. 7176 will immediately reverse the President's decision allowing 
the U.S. to export more and encouraging domestic production here at 
home, which will then reduce American energy supply vulnerabilities.

[[Page H651]]

  This will reduce American energy supply vulnerabilities and encourage 
investments in other industries, like manufacturing.
  Some estimate that LNG exports could add as much as $73 billion to 
our economy and more than 450,000 American jobs by 2040.
  LNG is vital to America's energy leadership, our security, and our 
future. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Huffman).
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. If we 
had truth in labeling, this bill would be called the methane pollution 
and higher energy prices act.
  I am simply amazed that this MAGA Republican majority in this 
Congress, which really makes the 1948 do-nothing Congress look like a 
paragon of productivity. This Congress can't find time to bring 
critical national security funding bills to the floor for a vote. They 
won't even bring a bipartisan border solution bill to the floor for a 
vote. But there is always time for another sop to the fossil fuel 
industry.
  So here we are with a bill that is transparently dishonest. It is an 
effort to fast-track dirty energy projects, throw environmental justice 
communities under the bus, completely ignore the climate crisis, and 
expedite permitting for LNG facilities so that Big Oil can ramp up 
unnecessary exports of this harmful fossil gas.
  Let's do some fact-checking. The United States is already the world's 
largest LNG exporter. We are on track to double that with existing 
projects that have already been permitted. So we do not need more of 
these methane bombs.
  Second, experts have crunched the numbers, and new LNG export 
facilities are going to increase the cost of energy prices here at 
home. That is a fact.
  Third, our allies are not asking for this. They are on record asking 
for clean energy, not more LNG. So let's stop putting words in their 
mouths. They don't want to go from being dependent on Vladimir Putin to 
being dependent on the United States fossil fuel industry. They want 
clean energy.
  LNG is a climate bomb. This is well documented. I sent a letter 
several weeks ago to the Biden administration asking them to develop 
meaningful tests to ensure that they are truly protecting the public 
interest here, not the interests of greedy corporations when they 
approve these projects.
  I am thankful that they have just announced that they will do exactly 
that with new LNG permitting decisions.
  This pause is the first step in overhauling how we permit these 
projects, but it is an important one, and we shouldn't be wasting time 
sacrificing communities at the altar of Big Oil in this attempt by 
Republicans to reverse a sensible, smart decision that puts people over 
politics.

  I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Pfluger), the author of this bill.
  Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, on January 26, President Biden imposed an 
immediate and indefinite ban on the issuance of LNG export permits to 
non-FTA countries while DOE conducts a review to consider the climate 
impacts of natural gas.
  Well, the DOE has already commissioned five studies to examine the 
effects of U.S. LNG exports, and the results unanimously demonstrate 
the benefits to the U.S. economy and to domestic prices. In fact, the 
two prior Presidential administrations conducted these studies without 
blocking export permits.
  President Biden's ban on LNG is radically shortsighted when it comes 
to the environmental risks. Clean natural gas is a major reason why the 
U.S. has reduced emissions more than any other Nation. According to 
DOE, U.S. LNG exports are also 41 percent cleaner than Russian natural 
gas delivered to Europe.
  Current law requires that natural gas exports to countries with non-
FTA countries are deemed in the public interest, unless DOE finds 
exports will not be consistent with public interest. There is a very 
clear statutory presumption already that exports are in the public 
interest, and each administration has held opposition to a very high 
bar. I think what the administration is saying right now is the 
political interest, that the statutory presumption has been held to a 
very high bar up until now.
  This is the same President who promised Europe that we would meet 
their needs in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Who stepped 
up to the plate? It was American energy producers who sent more than 87 
percent of LNG exports to the EU, U.K., and Asia in December--all 
markets which will now be forced to turn to nefarious actors for their 
needs.
  I am proud of this bipartisan bill, and one of the reasons is because 
of the steps that the industry has taken to help the climate, to help 
emissions, to reduce emissions.
  Let's consider that two-thirds of the world's recoverable natural gas 
is in four countries: Iran, Qatar, Russia, and the United States. Mr. 
Speaker, I would ask my colleagues who they recommend they turn to? If 
not the U.S., then who?
  Not only is President Biden cutting off our allies at the knees, but 
this move will also raise global and domestic prices. Domestic natural 
gas prices are lower and more stable with free, fair, and open markets, 
and U.S. LNG is the price ballast in a global market. The decision to 
ban exports creates uncertainty and discourages investments that would 
otherwise create jobs and expand the supply of natural gas.
  Out of all of President Biden's poor energy policies, the ban on LNG 
exports is the most egregious, shortsighted, and impactful on the 
credit of U.S. commitments around the world. I am proud to lead H.R. 
7176 to immediately reverse the ban and to take politics out of LNG 
exports by giving FERC sole authority for LNG exports and repealing all 
restrictions.
  I would say to the President that the world needs U.S. LNG. This 
catastrophic, politically based, and legally dubious ban must be 
reversed immediately. I appreciate the bipartisan support that we are 
receiving, but I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 
7176.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), my wonderful colleague.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this 
handout for Big Oil and Gas producers.
  This bill removes a requirement that DOE first determine LNG exports 
are to be in the public interest before approving export applications 
to non-free trade agreement countries. It is basically saying all LNG 
exports are in the public interest. This is simply not true.
  Study after study has 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 more than $100 billion 
over a 16-month period. After doubling our LNG exports in the last 5 
years, natural gas prices in 2022 more than tripled.
  If enacted, this bill will only compound those burdens on middle-
class families trying to make ends meet while enriching big 
corporations. This doesn't sound like legislating in the public 
interest.
  For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to 
recommit this bill back to committee.
  If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an 
important amendment to this bill. My amendment would prevent the bill 
from taking effect until the Secretary of Energy can certify that the 
bill will not increase domestic natural gas prices.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my 
amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to 
recommit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yakym). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentlewoman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
voting for the motion to recommit.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), who chairs the Health Subcommittee on Energy 
and Commerce.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend from South Carolina

[[Page H652]]

for yielding me time. I rise in support of the Unlocking Our Domestic 
LNG Potential Act.
  Last month, the Biden administration doubled down on its war against 
American energy production by effectively banning American LNG exports. 
This decision disincentivizes American LNG production, eliminates 
American jobs, and undermines our national security.

  Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, in the aftermath of Russia's illegal 
invasion of Ukraine, we instituted an embargo on Russian oil and gas, 
defunding Russia's war machine. Our European allies joined us in this 
effort. However, with few domestic alternatives, they rely on our LNG 
exports. In fact, 87 percent of U.S. LNG exports went to the European 
Union, the United Kingdom, or Asian markets.
  I often hear from our NATO allies about the importance of American 
energy production to global security. Without American energy 
independence, we and our allies become reliant on our adversaries for 
our energy needs and economic security. It is paramount to our national 
security at home and around the world that we continue to make energy 
in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Castor), the ranking member of our Oversight and 
Investigations Subcommittee.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Pallone for yielding 
me time.
  I rise today to oppose the GOP's latest love letter to Big Oil and 
Gas here the day after Valentine's Day.
  This Republican bill is a giant handout to Big Oil and Gas that will 
enrich our adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party, and 
force middle-class families to pay more on their home electric bills.
  Gas companies and CEOs want the unfettered ability to send American 
gas to China and other countries, so I thank the Biden administration 
for stepping in to analyze the cost to American consumers of doing so.
  Folks back home in Florida are paying exorbitant electric bills 
because we are tied to gas.

                              {time}  1245

  The Biden administration is right to study how unfettered gas and 
methane pollution costs my neighbors more. They are right to understand 
how that threatens our way of life as the atmosphere is overheating and 
is causing extreme heat waves, droughts, drying up our lakes and rivers 
and water supply, wildfires, and deadly hurricanes that are so costly. 
They are right to consider the national security concerns, as well.
  While we are talking about national security, there is a larger 
context that brought me to the floor today. That is the complete 
failure of Republicans to govern and accomplish anything for the 
American people.
  They announced last night that we are leaving early for the rest of 
the month.
  Are we going to do a tough, bipartisan border security bill? No.
  Are we going to do anything to address mass shootings? No. They just 
ignore the fact that the leading cause of death among American children 
and teens is death by gun. I am angry like the Kansas City police chief 
said she is angry.
  How about working on national security? No. The GOP has checked out. 
They can't govern. It is outrageous that extreme MAGA Republicans are 
siding with Putin and blocking a national security bill.
  How about the basic responsibility of passing appropriations bills? 
The fiscal year started on October 1, but Republicans have cowed down 
to the MAGA extremists in their party, who thought a costly shutdown 
was the way to go.
  This is the least productive Congress in modern times, and it shows. 
If the GOP cannot govern and they want to leave, I have an idea: Let 
Democrats tackle these problems. We are good at finding solutions. We 
are good at lowering costs for American families. We put people over 
politics, while the GOP put politics over the people. They put Putin 
over the people. They side with polluters every day that we are here.
  Vote ``no'' on this bill, and tell the folks here in Washington, 
especially the GOP, to get to work.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).
  Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I remind my colleagues that the Democrats 
control the White House and the Senate.
  I rise today to discuss once again the Biden administration's foolish 
rush-to-green agenda over U.S. energy dominance. I support an all-of-
the-above energy strategy.
  Actually, our allies are requesting U.S. LNG. I was just in Japan and 
Europe, so my colleague's previous statement otherwise is false.
  The decision to freeze the approval process for new plants to export 
liquefied natural gas will stifle the U.S. economy, signal weakness to 
our key allies, embolden our adversaries, and likely increase worldwide 
CO2 emissions.
  This ban sends a clear message that the Biden administration would 
rather appease radical environmental groups than unleash American 
energy. This is about election-year politics, not pragmatism.
  I join my colleagues today in calling for the House to pass H.R. 
7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024, reversing 
the Biden administration's de facto ban.
  The bill is also paramount to global energy security, including, as I 
previously mentioned, the Asia-Pacific and European areas of the world. 
Studies show also that LNG exports could add upward of $73 billion to 
the U.S. economy.
  Mr. Speaker, to ensure American energy leadership and security, 
Congress must pass H.R. 7176.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Casten).
  Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, there is a really simple question before us 
today: Is it in the U.S. national interest to look out for U.S. energy 
consumers or for U.S. energy producers?
  Let's look at the facts. According to the most recent DOE data over 
the last decade, U.S. gas consumption is up by about 26 percent; U.S. 
gas production is up by about 50 percent; and U.S. gas exports are up 
326 percent.
  Ten years ago, just 6 percent of all gas produced in the U.S. was for 
export. Today, more than 20 percent is for export. That is not because 
the industry is succeeding. They can't compete against cheaper 
renewable energy, so they are trying to export overseas, and y'all are 
helping them out.
  Those export volumes are going to triple again just based on the 
stuff that is already permitted in the pipeline--nothing to do with 
what is going on today.
  I remind my Republican colleagues, because sometimes we need to 
remind on this, even in this body where we write the laws, you cannot 
change the laws of supply and demand. When U.S. natural gas is exported 
overseas, it reduces domestic supply and increases the price. We know 
this from recent experience because when the Freeport LNG terminal had 
that explosion, according to the Department of Energy, domestic prices 
for natural gas fell by nearly a third. Exporters were very sad that 
they lost money. Do you know who had more money in their pocket? 
American consumers. Gas was cheaper.
  Y'all hate inflation, right? That was wonderful. Thank you for doing 
that. Who are you rooting for, though?
  Mr. Speaker, there was a reason why the Natural Gas Act does not 
require us to determine whether domestic production of energy for 
domestic use is in the national interest, because we rightly assume 
that domestic energy security is in our national interest. That is not 
the question posed by this bill. This bill would insist that exports 
are always in the national interest, and that is, as a technical term, 
total poppycock.
  Should we drill on public lands? Should we use eminent domain to 
seize private property? Should we increase the price of energy in the 
United States? Should we increase global warming?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, should we increase global warming? Should we 
do all of that just so that the natural gas

[[Page H653]]

industry can make more money selling U.S. resources to Asia--not to 
Europe, because that is where the margin is going. Or should we 
maintain the current law that simply asks us to determine whether that 
is in the public interest before permitting a new facility?
  To paraphrase a great political scientist by the name of Jeff 
Foxworthy: If you think that is a hard question, you might be a 
Republican.
  It is not a hard question. This is a bad bill for the climate. It is 
a bad bill for the economy. It is a bad bill for the U.S. consumer. 
Vote ``no.'' If you can't, at least be honest about who you are working 
for.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, thank goodness for the policies of the last 
administration. This administration seems to be touting that it has 
increased production. That came about because of policies of the Trump 
administration, when, on day one, the Biden administration shut down 
oil and gas leases, stopped American energy production, shut down 
pipeline projects, and thwarted the American energy sector.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Walberg).
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my subcommittee chairman for his 
truth-talking.
  I rise today in support of Representative Pfluger's bipartisan H.R. 
7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.
  Last month, President Biden announced an indefinite ban on new 
exports of good, clean, American LNG. Our national security and that of 
our allies demand that the United States continue to export LNG to 
Europe and other nations that have been dependent on dirty gas from 
Russia and Iran.
  Our communities and families along the Gulf Coast that depend on 
these jobs demand that we continue to export LNG.
  We have long accepted that President Biden would relinquish our 
energy leadership in favor of environmental activists and special 
interests. Today, it was reported that one of the plan's main 
architects, soon-to-be-climate envoy John Podesta, might have other 
reasons to damper America's LNG future. His brother is a longtime 
lobbyist for foreign LNG companies, including one founded by a Russian 
energy oligarch.
  This important legislation would immediately reverse the President's 
de facto ban and take the power to approve LNG exports away from the 
political whims of the White House and the DOE, placing it with the 
bipartisan Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
  LNG exports help us to reduce global emissions, lower prices through 
more supply, and grow our economy and industrial base.
  President Biden and his cabal are putting foreign adversaries and 
clean climate protesters ahead of the American people. That has to 
stop. Support this legislation.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Colorado (Ms. DeGette), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Energy, Climate, and Grid Security.
  Ms. DeGETTE. Mr. Speaker, I am so confused. President Biden took 
action to ensure that future LNG exports are actually in the interest 
of Americans. His action had no impact on current production of LNG.
  Let me say that again. The projects that President Biden's order 
impacts are future projects. We are going to see if, in the future, 
those projects are in America's best interest.
  What this bill does is not just overturns this pause on future 
actions; it goes so much further. It says all LNG exports must be in 
the public interest, and it prohibits the Department of Energy from 
finding otherwise.
  Let's say, for example, these increased exports lead to higher rates 
for ratepayers, which may happen. The Republican bill says to forget 
about any kind of public interest review. It must be approved even if 
ratepayers' rates are higher.
  If the increased exports all went to China, that would be in the 
public interest, too. If the exports lead to an exorbitant release of 
pollution, that would be in the public interest, too.
  That simply defies logic and sense. It is a fundamentally unserious 
policy proposal. In fact, I would call it not really a policy proposal 
at all but a campaign-year idea to try to somehow make people think we 
are trying to stop LNG exports. Nothing could be further from the 
truth.
  We have already permitted enough LNG exports to triple our export 
capacity by the 2030s. That is under current law. That is not something 
that President Biden's order is going to impact. That is more than 
enough LNG to assist our European and Asian allies.

  The U.S. is already the world's top LNG exporter and will be for 
years to come, not to mention that my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle know the Senate is never even going to take up this bill. 
Even if the Senate somehow did pass this, they know the President would 
never sign this bill into law. Also, this bill has already come up on 
two other occasions.
  Like I said, we need to be clear about why the Republicans are 
bringing this bill to the floor. They think this will be some good 
campaign ads or something else. Like so much of what else we have done 
on the floor, this is not going anywhere.
  I came here on behalf of my constituents to legislate. I came here to 
make the lives of the American people better. This bill doesn't do 
that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the fear-mongering from the Democrats is 
ludicrous. Spot prices for natural gas in December 2023 were only 53 
cents higher than they were in 2016. We can export American natural 
gas, produce more natural gas in this country, and help Americans and 
help our allies and friends around the world with their energy 
security, with their quality of life, and with their standard of 
living.
  Dr. Joyce from Pennsylvania knows it well because he represents the 
Marcellus shale.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  It is deeply troubling to see the Biden administration put party 
ahead of the country, to put radical views ahead of the common good, to 
put leftwing fear-mongering ahead of the American people.
  Sadly, that is exactly what happened when President Biden halted the 
permitting of additional liquefied natural gas export facilities.

                              {time}  1300

  Let's be clear. This is not a pause. It is the first step of a 
process to ban outright any future export of LNG--LNG--a form of energy 
that is under the feet of my constituents.
  This was a political decision to pander to the far left that will 
lead to increased energy prices for American households. It will 
abandon our allies in their time of need. It will harm family 
sustaining jobs and relinquish American global energy leadership.
  It is time to put a stop to the Biden administration's policies that 
increase prices for the sake of pandering to the President's political 
base.
  It is critical that we pass the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential 
Act and ensure that liquefied natural gas can continue to support 
American energy dominance.
  Why are we turning our back on American energy?
  How can we turn away from American family sustaining jobs?
  For what reasons are we turning our allies into the hands of Putin?
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing this 
legislation.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Barragan), who is a member of our committee.
  Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, do we want to talk about gifts to Putin?
  Which party is preventing any aid going to Ukraine to fight Putin and 
Russia?
  Mr. Speaker, don't come up here and talk about the hypocrisy of who 
is giving a gift to Putin because it is your party, the Republican 
Party, that is doing that.
  Today, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7176 which would strip away the 
Department of Energy's ability to examine the full impacts of liquefied 
natural

[[Page H654]]

gas export projects on our climate, consumer energy costs, and 
communities.
  LNG exports are an environmental injustice and a climate disaster. 
They pollute minority and low-income communities along the Gulf Coast.
  We have heard directly from communities in these regions that they do 
not want any LNG facilities to be built in their backyards.
  Roishetta Ozane, a mother of six in Sulphur, Louisiana, is surrounded 
by oil and gas infrastructure, including three LNG export facilities. 
She has said: ``Our air smells like rotten eggs. There is constant 
flaring. . . . It sounds like trains are coming back and forth. I have 
two children who suffer with asthma. I have children who suffer with 
other respiratory and skin conditions. . . . There are several families 
dealing with the same thing.''
  For far too long, her community's voice has been ignored as these LNG 
export facilities were built.
  I commend the Biden administration for taking an important step to 
pause the consideration of new permits for LNG export terminals. It 
gives us a chance to make sure that people like Roishetta have a voice.
  The Republican bill in front of us is an attempt to silence 
communities overwhelmed by pollution. It forces the Federal Government 
to ignore what is in the public interest and instead blindly approve 
LNG export projects to create profits for the fossil fuel industry.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my Democratic colleagues to oppose this bill and 
stand up for our consumers, our climate, and the health of our 
communities.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin is selling 40 percent more 
natural gas to Europe now than he did before the Ukraine war. By not 
selling Europe American LNG, the administration is putting money in 
Vladimir Putin's pockets for him to fund the war.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas knows about energy.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Weber).
  Mr. WEBER of Texas. I thank the chairman for his leadership on this 
important issue along with Representative Pfluger's.
  This is extremely important in my district on Texas' Gulf Coast. 
Every time American energy is on the upswing, this administration seems 
dead set on knocking it down, all in the name of climate change, and 
now they are banning LNG export permits.
  In my district, Freeport LNG, the second largest LNG exporter in the 
United States, has seen this impact on our community. They had been 
creating jobs, investing back into the local economy, and improving 
U.S. foreign trade.
  This reckless decision by the Biden administration doesn't just 
impact Freeport LNG, it also directly impacts the two other LNG plants 
in my district, Golden Pass LNG and Port Arthur LNG. They have followed 
the rigorous and, might I add, burdensome permitting process and were 
close to turning their lights on and producing and exporting LNG, and 
now those projects are in limbo killing thousands of jobs and hurting 
local, State, and our Nation's economy.
  The U.S. produces energy cleaner and more reliable than any other 
Nation.
  As Ted Cruz said: What the President did is a giant middle finger to 
the State of Texas. I would add it is a giant middle finger to my 
district in southeast Texas.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to passing the Unlocking our Domestic LNG 
Potential Act to reverse this heinous ban and block this crazy 
administration from playing politics with our energy security and our 
district.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Frost).
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my frustration with 
the Republican obsession with LNG and fossil fuels. I commend the Biden 
administration on this decisive and very important step to fighting the 
climate crisis.
  Republicans have been making the same argument since the nineties 
even as the realities of the argument have been changing. Green 
energies like wind, solar, and hydro are no longer the future. They are 
the present, and they are now cost competitive with fossil fuels and 
continue to become even cheaper, not to mention that they don't leave 
lasting damage and impact to our planet that we will have to clean up 
later.

  LNG is dangerous, it is dirty, and it leaves lasting environmental 
and health damage to the community where it is produced.
  I want to be even clearer. According to the Department of Energy, the 
more LNG that we export, the more expensive prices will be for gas at 
the pump, and our electricity bills will be even higher.
  Additionally, LNG, which is 90 percent methane, heats the atmosphere 
at 80 times the rate of carbon dioxide, and for my fellow Floridians, 
we are having hotter and hotter summers and record heat. This means 
even hotter summers, even deadlier summers and faster sea levels 
rising.
  LNG is a loser for our pockets. It is a loser for humanity. It is a 
loser for our communities, and it is killing us.
  To hear my colleagues say that: Oh, the President is pandering to the 
climate movement. Two things: Number one, I can only hope, pray, and 
fight to make sure that we build off of this victory to get to a green, 
clean future. Number two, the climate activists, advocates, and 
organizers are heroes for fighting to protect all of us, even your 
constituents.
  So Republicans have been fighting on behalf of their friends in Big 
Oil for longer than I have been alive, and I am asking for the sake of 
humanity, for God's sake, please find better friends.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Carter), who is the new chair of the Energy and Commerce 
Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee.
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill to unleash American 
energy. There is little doubt that President Biden's LNG export pause 
is a blatant political decision to appease his radical base at the 
expense of American energy security and the security of our allies.
  What is being called a pause now will last indefinitely, and it is a 
de facto ban.
  This will cede our energy independence to countries like Iran and 
Russia and also force manufacturing and business abroad, as well. 
Sadly, the Biden administration is bowing to its radical Green New Deal 
factions by imposing a policy that will, in fact, not reduce emissions.
  If we are concerned about emissions, then the Iranian and Russian gas 
that will replace us in the market is much dirtier and will lead to 
more emissions. The world will no longer look to the U.S. as an energy 
leader, which is especially worrisome for our European allies whom we 
promised reliable energy.
  This decision doesn't take a single step towards competing with our 
adversaries, reducing emissions, or bringing jobs to America. It just 
doesn't make sense. That is why I am very excited to vote in support of 
the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I encourage my colleagues to 
support it,
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the amount of time that 
remains.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey has 9\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from South Carolina has 12\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Scalise). We are glad the majority leader of the House 
is back in Congress.
  Mr. SCALISE. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from South Carolina for 
yielding. I know my friend is not leaving any time soon, but we have 
appreciated both our friendship and leadership along the way, and we 
will miss him when he is gone. There is a lot of work left to be done 
in these next few months.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of work left to be done today if you 
think about the importance of this bill.
  It really focuses on the importance of smart energy policy, something 
that has been lacking--devastatingly lacking--in this country for the 
last 3

[[Page H655]]

years, and it is a costly, costly consequence that American families 
are paying. Having bad energy policy has resulted in higher energy 
costs for families.
  Mr. Speaker, especially low-income families are hit the hardest. When 
you see gas prices go higher, it hits lower-income families the 
hardest. When you see the home heating costs because of that LNG 
policy, it affects everybody. It affects prices and commodities, things 
that you buy at the grocery store, because all of that is built in when 
you have higher energy costs. It especially affects low-income families 
when they have to decide can they even pay their home heating costs in 
a cold winter.
  All these decisions are being made because Joe Biden has gone after 
American energy. Joe Biden is not against all forms of energy.
  Let's be clear about this.
  What has this President done in his entire Presidency over the last 3 
years?
  Time and time again, Joe Biden goes after American energy. When he 
says it is harder to drill for oil in America, it is because he attacks 
the fossil fuel industry. He doesn't ban all oil. He just makes it 
harder to get permits in America. So what that does is it emboldens 
countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, who are selling their oil 
on world markets and making billions and billions of dollars doing it. 
In fact, it helps them fund terrorist activities.
  When you think of Iran having more power because the President lifts 
sanctions on them, and then the President goes after domestic American 
oil and gas, then he emboldens countries like Iran which then makes 
billions of dollars that they use to fund terrorism; there is a direct 
link. We all know that.
  Yet, here the other side goes with the President, once again, going 
after not all forms of energy and not all forms of LNG, just American-
made LNG by banning LNG exports in America.

  So think about this, Mr. Speaker, there used to be a day when we 
encouraged companies to make their products in America. We heard a lot 
of people making speeches about buy American and make it in America. 
Nevertheless, if you say make it in America, but you can make it 
anywhere in the world--these are global commodities we are talking 
about--but if you make it in America, we are going to ban you from 
selling it anywhere in the world.
  So, Mr. Speaker, if you make it somewhere else, if you make it in 
Iran, you can sell it anywhere on world markets. If you make it in 
America, then they are going to ban you from selling your product.
  So what it does is it has a stifling effect on production and 
exploration of energy in America--not anywhere else in the world--just 
in America.
  For all my friends who love talking about the climate, nobody in the 
world makes energy cleaner and more efficient than the United States of 
America.
  I am sick and tired of these people who wake up every day and love 
bashing America, bashing American companies, and bashing American 
products or American fossil fuels, as if we got rid of them then they 
just don't exist.
  All that happens is that if we get rid of American energy, then we 
have to get it from other countries and we have to bring it here on 
tankers, which, by the way, have a much higher rate of failure than if 
we put it in a pipeline, which is much safer, or other means.
  The policies that we are seeing out of this administration to go 
after American energy is lunacy, and it is costing families who are 
sick and tired of paying higher energy costs when they know they don't 
have to.
  This is not the 1970s anymore where we had lines at the pump, and we 
could only get gasoline every other day based on the license plate 
number because we didn't have the technology to know where more energy 
was in America.
  We have got all that today. We know what that technology is, and we 
know where the energy reserves of this country are. We could provide 
all the energy for our country and all of our allies around the world.
  By the way, we lowered emissions when we did that.
  Interestingly, they don't have any of this apply to countries like 
China that are building a coal plant every week with emissions through 
the roof. We do it cleaner and better than anywhere else in the world, 
and we should have policies that allow us to do even more production of 
American energy.
  That is what this bill does. That is not what the President does. 
President Biden over and over again has attacked and gone after 
American energy, and people are sick and tired of it because they know 
nobody does it better.
  They are sick and tired of having to see countries like Russia 
benefit, Iran's economy benefit, and other countries benefit when it 
should be our economy that benefits.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this legislation. Let's pass it on. I 
commend Representative Pfluger for bringing this to the floor, and I 
hope that we actually get the policy right. This bill helps us do that.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have to correct the record, not only about my 
colleague, Mr. Scalise, who I very much respect, but also some of the 
other comments that have been made.
  There was a reference to President Joe Biden. The bottom line is that 
President Biden, like myself, believes in an all-of-the-above energy 
policy. In fact, there has been record production of oil during 
President Biden's administration. More oil has been produced 
domestically here in the United States during his administration than 
any other President that we have had.
  The point is that we would like to move toward clean energy. Yes, we 
would like to have cleaner oil production, as well, but it doesn't mean 
that we are not in favor of more production. In fact, there is more 
production.
  Now, many of my Republican colleagues have referred to President 
Biden's recent action to pause LNG exports as a ban, and that is simply 
not true. The Natural Gas Act requires the President to determine 
whether or not new LNG exports are in the public interest. If the 
President and his administration feel like they do not have sufficient 
information to make that determination, then it is their responsibility 
and duty under the law to take time and gather that information.
  Even Politico highlighted the Republican misinformation machine in an 
article this week. They said:

       Other Republicans have settled on a more blunt strategy, 
     falsely portraying the pause on new permits as a ban on 
     exports. Thanks to already issued permits, exports are 
     expected to increase rapidly in the coming years.

  Once again, the Republicans are peddling in misinformation to prop up 
their polluters-over-people agenda.
  The Biden administration pause makes sense. It is common sense. The 
last time the economic impacts of LNG exports were examined was in 
2018, when LNG export volumes were one-quarter of what they currently 
are.
  The last time the greenhouse gas impacts of LNG exports were examined 
was in 2019. We know so much more now about emissions from gas leakage 
in the transportation, liquefaction, and regasification process.
  It would be foolish to review 2024 LNG exports now without looking at 
2024 analysis and data, which we do not have. Therefore, frankly, it 
would have been massively irresponsible for President Biden to approve 
further exports without reexamining how the Department of Energy was 
making its determination. I thank the President for taking the action 
he did, and I look forward to the results of this review.
  I want to correct one more thing. Many of my colleagues have referred 
to radical environmentalists. I don't think it is radical to ask what 
is going on in people's ability to breathe.
  When the Clean Air Act was passed, it basically was passed because we 
wanted to make sure that people would be able to breathe clean air. It 
is not radical for me to try to correct air quality and, if there is 
pollution out there, to try to correct it so people can breathe when 
the list of all the health impacts of not being able to breathe clean 
air is so long.
  Again, all we are asking--all that this administration has asked and 
all the Democrats have asked--is that we continue to clean up our air 
so that we can breathe. That is it. That is all we are asking for here 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I love to hear the Democrats talk about 
increased production and the levels of

[[Page H656]]

production now. These projects don't happen overnight. They started 
during the Trump administration with their policies.
  Go back to the Obama administration, where oil and gas production 
increased on State and private land, not Federal land, because the 
Obama administration was against that. Then, President Trump opened up 
more Federal land.
  However, on day one, President Biden signed executive orders to stop 
oil and gas leasing on Federal land. He shut down the Keystone 
pipeline.
  My Democratic colleagues have thwarted energy projects over and over. 
This is another attempt to stop LNG export, and it hurts our friends 
and allies across the globe.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Balderson).
  Mr. BALDERSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for American energy 
leadership. Yet, with the President's most recent announcement banning 
new American LNG exports, he will singlehandedly undermine our energy 
sector and endanger our allies overseas. Rather than holding countries 
like China and Russia accountable, President Biden would rather play 
politics and appease the radical climate activists.
  Here are the facts. Increasing LNG exports would add over $70 billion 
to the U.S. economy and create over 400,000 American jobs by 2040. 
American LNG is more than 40 percent cleaner than Russian LNG. Also, 
since we have increased our LNG exports, domestic natural gas prices 
have remained affordable and stable despite record inflation.
  I thank August Pfluger for his work here, and I also thank our former 
colleague and my good friend, Bill Johnson, for leading on this 
legislation and the LNG export issues for many years.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).
  Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7176, the 
Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. This bill is a 
pivotal piece of legislation that would bolster United States energy 
security, foster economic growth, and promote environmental 
sustainability.
  At its core, this bill would streamline the regulatory process for 
LNG exports and unleash the full potential of America's abundant 
natural gas resources. This bill reverses the disastrous Biden 
administration's extreme liquefied gas export permit ban.
  I know how much the left loves that word, ``extreme.'' They are the 
very definition of it.
  This bill also presents a strategic opportunity for the United States 
to fortify its energy independence. By facilitating the exportation of 
LNG, we reduce our reliance on foreign energy sources, mitigate 
geopolitical risks, and improve U.S. national security.
  The bill creates new jobs, stimulates investment in energy 
infrastructure, and fosters innovation across related industries. 
Increasing LNG exports will expand markets, bolster domestic 
production, and increase economic growth.
  This bill would also provide cleaner, more environmentally friendly 
energy options for our partners and our allies, and it is important 
that they know where we stand and that they can depend on and trust us 
during these times.
  This bill also supports global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions while increasing global energy security.
  My home State of Florida plays a pivotal role in the broader 
landscape of U.S. LNG exports, with JAXPORT serving as a hub for LNG 
expansion and development. JAXPORT is the only port on the East Coast 
to offer on-dock and near-dock LNG fueling capabilities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues who care about national 
security to get on board with this bill.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Allen).
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina, 
our chairman of the subcommittee, for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our 
Domestic LNG Potential Act. In fact, it is shocking to me that this 
bill is even necessary.
  Everyone in this Chamber today knows that U.S. liquefied natural gas, 
or LNG, exports are more than 40 percent cleaner than the Russian 
natural gas delivered to Europe. Everyone in this Chamber knows that 
U.S. natural gas has helped us reduce emissions more than any other 
nation, both domestically and abroad.
  As we have heard, everyone in this Chamber also knows that increasing 
LNG exports could add as much as $73 billion to the U.S. economy and 
upward of 453,000 jobs by 2024, yet President Biden and this 
administration are seeking to destroy all of this potential by 
indefinitely banning LNG exports simply to appease radical 
environmentalists.
  H.R. 7176 would immediately reverse the President's de facto ban on 
American LNG exports to restore U.S. leadership, reduce emissions, and 
increase the energy security of our Nation and our allies.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7176, the 
Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.
  America's domestic energy revolution has not just benefited Americans 
with affordable and reliable access to energy or with countless good-
paying jobs. It has also benefited our allies around the world. Thanks 
to exports of American LNG, we are helping our allies in Europe keep 
the lights and heat on this winter. Without American LNG, our allies 
would have to depend on Vladimir Putin and others for their natural 
gas.
  Here in the United States, we produce energy, including natural gas, 
with the strictest environmental and labor standards anywhere in the 
world. In fact, global greenhouse gas emissions have dropped in recent 
years not because of government regulations but because of increased 
use of ever-cleaner natural gas.
  When we export American LNG, we are exporting the cleanest natural 
gas found anywhere in the world. We are exporting the incredible 
environmental progress the United States has made.
  Rather than supporting Ukraine and other allies, the Biden 
administration is focused on making campaign promises to their extreme 
radical left. Cutting off American LNG exports will only threaten our 
allies' security and line the pockets of Vladimir Putin.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to record my reading and understanding of 
H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.
  This bill removes the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy (DOE) 
to issue export licenses for facilities, including offshore facilities, 
exporting LNG to countries the U.S. does not have a free trade 
agreement with, while confirming that these projects are in the public 
interest. Since the public interest determination is in the bill, we do 
not anticipate the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will add 
new terms to their public interest review, including extensions or 
expansions of projects that have been already approved.
  I also wish to confirm that applications from LNG export project 
sponsors, for extensions in the export commencement date for previously 
issued DOE export licenses, are not covered by the Biden Administration 
ban on exports, and that upon enactment of this bill, existing 
authorized projects for export to non-FTA countries will no longer be 
within DOE's jurisdiction but will reside with FERC. Furthermore, 
export commencement extensions for previously authorized DOE exports 
are presumed to be granted by FERC.
  Finally, should a project need an export commencement extension 
before this bill is enacted, DOE, as stated by Deputy Secretary Turk on 
the record, must accept applications for such an extension and process 
it in a timely manner.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Pence).
  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
  I thank Congressman Pfluger for introducing this important 
legislation that I am proud to cosponsor.
  I rise in support of H.R. 7176, which will streamline LNG export 
authorizations and put our Nation back on track toward energy 
dominance.

[[Page H657]]

  This bill would put downward pressure on global natural gas markets 
and expand economic opportunities across the country. We are blessed 
with abundant natural resources that create jobs, lower costs for 
Americans, and advance our national security interests abroad.
  Unfortunately, since day one, the Biden administration has led our 
Nation into an energy crisis of their own making. President Biden's 
latest LNG export ban is nothing more than a political stunt to appease 
far-left activists.
  Hoosiers watching at home won't be fooled by false claims of 
environmental stewardship. American LNG is the cleanest form of natural 
gas available and has allowed the U.S. to lead the world in emissions 
reductions.
  Mr. Speaker, it is way past time this administration paid attention 
to the experts and not the radical environmentalists.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Casten).
  Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this debate makes me sad. Energy policy is really 
important. Energy consumers are really important. The environment is 
really important. So much of this debate is completely untethered from 
truth.
  There isn't enough time to rebut everything, but I want to clarify 
two points. One is where LNG exports are going right now, and the 
second is about the environmental impact.
  It is true today that the majority of U.S. LNG exports, the largest 
volume, is going to Europe. It is also true that that really did help 
our European allies wean themselves off of Russian gas. Now, that is 
not because the U.S. gas industry was suddenly imbued with patriotism. 
It is because they were paying more, which is fine.
  However, all the additional exports we are talking about are 
contracted out. Right now, they are going to Asia. Therefore, this is 
not a question right now about helping Europe. This is a question of 
whether they will make more money going to Asia.
  Now, why are they going to go to Asia? Well, that brings me to the 
second point. There is an assertion that LNG is inherently clean 
because it displaces coal. Let's be clear. No one buys natural gas so 
that it will be more expensive for them to make energy. It will 
displace coal if it is cheaper than coal.
  My colleagues are to have us believe that the United States is going 
to export gas to Asia so that countries like China can have cheaper 
energy and make their businesses more competitive on the global stage 
and that they are doing that because they are so committed to 
environmental protection.
  Look, natural gas is methane, for the most part. Methane is 80 times 
as potent a greenhouse gas as CO2, which means that if you 
have more than 2 percent leakage from the wellhead to the burner tip, 
it is worse than coal.
  In the United States, that means that the wellheads, the collection 
facilities, the distribution pipelines, the combustion facilities, 
which we all in this body regulate, maybe we can get it down below that 
level, and maybe in the United States, it is less. However, we are not 
talking about that. We are talking about exports.
  What is the leak rate on the ships? What are the leak rates on the 
regasification facilities overseas? What are the leak rates on the 
distribution facilities in those countries? Do we trust Chinese 
economic data so much that if they say it is not leaking, we will say: 
That is awesome. I am glad you are so competitive. I am glad you are 
outcompeting U.S. businesses.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Moran). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the 
gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. CASTEN. I am glad we made you more competitive. I trust your 
data, and we are just going to tell folks at home that because we were 
so patriotic and environmentally minded.
  Like I said in my last remarks, this is a really good bill if you 
want to make money exporting natural gas. It is not a good bill for 
anybody else. Let's just be honest with the American people about this.

                              {time}  1330

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, after we lifted the crude oil export ban, 
Americans know what they were paying at the pump before the Biden 
administration. They were paying lower gas prices. They are paying much 
higher gas prices, commodity prices. Everything has gone up due to the 
Biden inflation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas 
(Mr. Westerman), who understands natural resources. He chairs the 
Natural Resources Committee.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7176. Of all their 
incoherent energy policies, the Biden administration's de facto ban on 
all pending approvals for LNG exports is among the very worst ideas in 
their ongoing attack on American energy.
  I challenge anyone in the Biden administration to string together and 
communicate a cognitive and defensible argument for how the ban 
benefits the environment, the geopolitical landscape, the U.S. economy, 
our allies, or our national security.
  This ban damages all those things while lining the pockets and 
strengthening Vladimir Putin and OPEC.
  To paraphrase ``Billy Madison,'' at no point has this administration 
in their rambling, incoherent energy policies been even close to 
anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone is now 
dumber for having listened to it.
  American natural gas is the cleanest, safest, and most ethically 
sourced on Earth. American energy, and certainly American natural gas, 
is not our enemy. If the administration would simply read and 
comprehend our government's own data, they would realize American 
energy, and especially American natural gas, is the solution, not the 
problem.
  We should be producing and exporting more while we develop a sound 
all-of-the-above energy policy that focuses on reliable, affordable, 
and clean energy.
  U.S. Government data shows that since 1990, our economy has grown 791 
percent, our vehicle miles traveled have increased 113 percent, our 
population has grown 47 percent, and our energy consumption has grown 
29 percent. Mr. Speaker, thanks in large part to American natural gas, 
during this time of huge growth, our emissions have decreased 60 
percent. A large part of that is due to our innovations in fracking and 
producing natural gas.
  I am proud to support this legislation to repeal the Biden 
administration's shortsighted restrictions on the export of U.S. 
natural gas and further U.S. leadership and emissions reduction, 
strengthen our economy, and bolster energy security for the U.S. and 
our allies.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from South Carolina has 2 
minutes remaining. The gentleman from New Jersey has 3\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, again, this bill is a massive valentine to the Communist 
Party of China. It would send untold amounts of American LNG to China 
to help continue to fuel its industrial rise, without ever allowing for 
a review as to whether these exports are actually in the public 
interest.
  Now, what is going on here? Why on Earth are Republicans eager to 
sell LNG to China when they know that LNG exports increase domestic 
natural gas prices for Americans? I will tell you why: Because the cost 
to American families means nothing as long as oil and gas companies 
profit.
  Numerous studies show that LNG exports result in increased costs to 
Americans. If we pass this bill, already volatile natural gas prices 
will be shaped by forces completely out of our control.
  It doesn't make any sense to me. Republicans are acting against 
American interests here. I wish my colleagues across the aisle would 
focus on what is important and not just on stalling tactics that pad 
the pockets of polluters.
  Mr. Speaker, Republicans claim that this bill helps our European 
allies.

[[Page H658]]

What a joke that is. The reality is that they don't care about our 
European allies who are currently going to the mat for democracy and 
facing down Vladimir Putin in Ukraine.
  On Tuesday evening in the Rules Committee, we heard over and over 
again from our Republican colleagues that LNG is crucial for our allies 
in Europe. Unfortunately, these same Republicans have made it clear 
they have no interest in actually providing aid to Ukraine. They use 
the war on Ukraine to argue for LNG exports and push the arguments of 
their oil and gas friends. But when it comes down to actually helping 
allies, they are at best silent, and at worst vocally against it.
  Last year, 21 radical House Republicans signed on to a letter 
opposing all supplemental funding requests for Ukraine in its struggle 
against Russian oppression.
  Weeks later, a majority of House Republicans voted against a bill 
offering a paltry amount of aid to Ukraine. Now, after the Senate has 
done its part, they totally refuse to bring a bill to the floor that 
would easily command a majority in the House.
  The behavior is unbelievable. I want to be clear: It will lead to the 
unnecessary deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians.
  Mr. Speaker, I would simply ask my Republican colleagues: Which is 
it? Do they actually care about assisting Europe? Do they think current 
LNG volumes in Europe are insufficient? Do they think tripling LNG 
volumes to Europe without issuing another permit is insufficient, or do 
they really just want to protect the ability of Big Oil and Gas to 
price gouge Americans here at home?
  If they were serious about supporting our European allies, they would 
be supporting a bill on the floor that would spend money to do just 
that, not wasting time on this bill for the third time this Congress.
  If Republicans were serious about supporting our European allies, 
they would push back on Donald Trump's dangerous invitation to Russia 
to ``do whatever the hell they want'' if Europe doesn't spend more on 
its own defense.
  Is this what helping our democratic allies looks like? Are 
Republicans unable to see what is wrong here? How their inaction 
threatens European peace and security, and our own national security?
  House Republicans are unwilling to spend a single dollar to defend 
democracy in Europe but are happy to sit here and argue again and again 
about a bill that will drive up costs for everyday Americans while 
lining the pockets of their Big Oil and Gas friends. It is just 
unbelievable to me, Mr. Speaker, even for Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States of America is blessed with abundant 
natural resources. Unfortunately, we are cursed with liberal 
politicians who don't want American companies and American investors 
and entrepreneurs to go after the resources to help Americans.
  When we had a spike in energy prices during the Biden administration, 
President Biden didn't fly to Midland, Texas; he didn't fly to North 
Dakota; he didn't fly to Louisiana and beg those producers to produce 
more. Where did he fly? He flew to Saudi Arabia to beg the OPEC cartel 
to produce more so that we could import it--political stunt there--to 
help lower prices for Americans versus using American resources and 
American companies and American jobs.
  This indefinite pause on LNG exports is misguided, but Americans need 
to know this wasn't an executive order that had no input from the 
public. It wasn't a piece of legislation that passed. He did it by a 
press release, directing an agency to pause LNG exports.
  Let's talk about Ukraine today. We have heard a lot of that. Vladimir 
Putin and his energy oligarchs are exporting to Europe 40 percent more 
than they did before the war in Ukraine. That is more money flowing 
right into the pocket of Vladimir Putin to fund his war effort in 
Ukraine.
  I would rather that money flow into the pockets of American energy 
producers and tax bases and to communities all around this country that 
produce energy by exporting more to help our friends and allies. 
America has never used the spigot of energy exported to influence 
policy in any country, but Vladimir Putin has turned the spigot on and 
off many times to influence policy in Europe.
  Let's pass this legislation. Let's continue to export cleaner 
burning, American-produced natural gas. Let's produce more, deliver 
more, utilize more, and export more to help our friends and allies 
around the world improve their quality of life and improve their energy 
security.
  Mr. Speaker, this is right for America. I urge my colleagues to vote 
``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 7176, the 
Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. This bill would open 
the floodgates for gas exports that enrich our adversaries, raise 
consumer energy costs, and accelerate the climate crisis.
  Mr. Speaker, why would Republicans want to export our natural 
resources to foreign adversaries without even considering if those 
exports will harm everyday Americans? This bill does just that. H.R. 
7176 removes the requirement that the Department of Energy (DOE) first 
determine if liquified natural gas (LNG) exports are in the public 
interest before approving export applications to countries with whom 
the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement. By removing essential 
safeguards, this bill will allow our adversaries, like China, to 
purchase even more of our natural resources to use against us.
  This bill is nothing more than a giant handout to Republicans' big 
oil and gas friends, and hardworking Americans will pay the price with 
higher home energy costs. H.R. 7176 is detrimental to my constituents 
who already have to deal with volatile fossil fuel costs and gas prices 
being manipulated by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting 
Countries (OPEC). Big oil and gas corporations don't need another 
handout from Congressional Republicans. They already enjoy billions in 
taxpayer-funded subsidies and continue to rake in record-breaking 
profits.
  The U.S. is the number one exporter of LNG worldwide, and U.S. 
exports are expected to double by the end of this decade. Last 
November, I joined my colleagues in the House and Senate in sending a 
letter to DOE urging the agency to update how it determines if new 
licenses for LNG exports are in the public interest. I was pleased to 
see the Biden administration's announcement in January that DOE would 
pause approvals for pending and future applications to export LNG from 
new projects until the agency can update the public interest analyses 
for authorizations. President Biden's decision will ensure that impacts 
on costs to American families and businesses, climate impacts, and 
environmental justice are factored in when approving LNG exports. I 
commend President Biden for his commitment to leading the way in 
ambitious climate action.
  This is the third time that I have voted on this bill on the House 
Floor in the 118th Congress. For the third time, I urge my colleagues 
to reject H.R. 7176 and the Republicans' radical agenda that puts 
polluters over people.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 
7176--the ``Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.''
  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.

[[Page H659]]

  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 
already-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 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.
  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 benefiting 
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 middle-class 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 1009, the 
previous question is ordered on the bill.
  The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.


                           Motion to Recommit

  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the 
desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to 
recommit.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Mrs. Watson Coleman of New Jersey moves to recommit the 
     bill H.R. 7176 to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

  The material previously referred to by Mrs. Watson Coleman is as 
follows:

       Mrs. Watson Coleman moves to recommit the bill H.R. 7176 to 
     the Committee on Energy and Commerce with instructions to 
     report the same back to the House forthwith, with the 
     following amendment:

       Add at the end the following:

     SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall not 
     take effect unless and until the Secretary of Energy 
     certifies that increased exports of liquified natural gas 
     from the United States will not increase domestic natural gas 
     prices.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX, the 
previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit.
  The question is on the motion to recommit.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question are postponed.

                          ____________________