[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 12009-12010]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   STRATEGIC ENERGY POLICY--UTILIZING NATURAL GAS AT HOME AND ABROAD

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, in a dramatic shift from 
just a short time ago, the United States is reducing its dependence on 
foreign sources of energy. It has the opportunity to become a major 
force in the international energy market. It is being made possible 
through the development of our domestic energy resources, namely the 
expansion of unconventional resources, such as shale gas and oil.
  Through remarkable innovations, the U.S. has been able to access oil 
and gas from shale formations that were previously inaccessible or 
uneconomical to produce. As a result, we have quickly moved from energy 
dependence and a weaker footing to energy abundance and strategic 
leverage both domestically and abroad.
  At a time when the economy has not recovered at an acceptable pace, 
gas production in particular areas, such as the Marcellus shale in 
Pennsylvania, have provided a key source of economic relief and job 
creation. As a result of the Marcellus, Pennsylvanians and Americans 
across the country are benefiting from lower heating costs, businesses 
are able to produce goods more efficiently, and manufacturers are 
looking to relocate to the United States to create products, support 
economic expansion, and grow jobs that were previously headed overseas.
  But, Mr. Speaker, if we are to sustain the same level of growth and 
expansion, policymakers must make smart choices for the future so that 
we support rather than hinder this opportunity. To start, we must 
continue to expand gas utilization domestically.

[[Page 12010]]

  The Marcellus shale, for example, has changed where, in the United 
States, gas is transported and utilized and how it is transported from 
region to region. This reconfiguration requires new infrastructure, 
including pipelines for transmission and transport and new processing 
facilities, and this all requires long-term planning and investment.
  Additionally, because the domestic production of natural gas is far 
surpassing U.S. demand, most economists agree that a modest expansion 
of natural gas exports would serve to stabilize domestic prices and 
supply, which is critical to sustaining the rapid growth in the 
industry that we have witnessed. Furthermore, each gas export terminal 
is a multibillion-dollar investment that creates construction jobs in 
addition to the more permanent positions within the natural gas value 
chain. That means jobs for steelworkers, turbine manufacturers, 
pipefitters, and others, which will help communities across the 
country.
  Given the situation in Ukraine and events in the Middle East, we are 
reminded that our energy resources can also provide significant 
geopolitical benefits. Exporting even a small amount of these plentiful 
resources overseas to our allies will strengthen not only our domestic 
economy but our national security. President Obama, Secretary of State 
Kerry, and leaders of the European Union have clearly stated that 
additional global supplies of natural gas will benefit Europe and our 
strategic partners. For this reason, I am proud to say the House 
recently passed H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. 
This bipartisan bill would streamline the permitting process for 
natural gas exports.
  In February 2014, the United States Department of Commerce reported 
that our national trade deficit for 2013 improved by $63.1 billion in 
comparison to 2012. However, despite this improvement, figures for the 
month of April are now showing that imports are increasing and that 
exports are decreasing, and as a result, the trade deficit is now at a 
2-year high. With the U.S. Department of Commerce having acknowledged 
that increased petroleum exports are a key factor that can contribute 
to a lower trade deficit, it makes perfect sense to allow additional 
LNG exports in order to further reduce the trade deficit. In addition 
to its economic and international benefits, natural gas has helped to 
significantly lower our carbon emissions, which decreased by 3.8 
percent last year in the United States, down to 1994 levels, according 
to government data.
  The United States needs a smart energy policy that enables the 
citizens to continue receiving the benefits of abundant, low-cost 
energy, but also one that utilizes these resources as a tool of 
strategic leverage to improve our environment and shape international 
events to the benefit of America and its allies.
  Mr. Speaker, we have made a smart and strategic decision in the House 
with the passage of H.R. 6. Let's continue to advance similar policies 
to further leverage the many benefits of our domestic energy resources. 
Let's do it for the good of the American people and our Nation's 
strategic competitiveness in the world.

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