February 14, 2024
Reschenthaler Manages Rule Debate on Legislation Unlocking LNG
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) delivered the following remarks on the House floor when he managed the Rule Debate on H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.
As prepared for delivery:
“Mr. Speaker, since President Joe Biden took office, he has waged war on American energy independence while supporting policies that have emboldened Vladimir Putin, the Ayatollah, and Chairman Xi.
Don’t believe me? Here are the facts.
He green-lit Nordstream II to provide Russian gas to Europe, while blocking the Keystone XL pipeline here at home.
He has proposed and enacted rules that devastated clean coal-fired power plants, while China approves two new plants each week.
He has depleted the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to its lowest levels since 1983 and sent millions of barrels to Communist China.
And on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, the Biden Administration unfroze $6 billion in oil sanctions to Iran, just days before Iran helped fund a horrific terrorist attack on Israel.
This administration’s policies truly embody the slogan: “America Last.”
But to the chagrin of those across the aisle, there is more!
Just last month, the president announced an indefinite pause in new approvals of liquefied natural gas exports.
This deeply concerning decision puts American family-sustaining jobs and the security of our allies and partners around the globe at risk.
In the wake of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, our European allies have nearly tripled their import of U.S. LNG while significantly reducing their reliance on Russian natural gas.
Studies have shown that LNG exports can provide upwards of $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040, create an additional 453,000 jobs, and help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
The administration’s actions will undoubtedly cause significant disruptions to the U.S. and global economies.
Let me be clear: The only people who stand to benefit from this decision are based in Beijing, Tehran, and Moscow.
That is why House Republicans are bringing to the floor this week the bipartisan Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024, which ends the Biden Administration’s ban on LNG exports and streamlines the permitting process by removing the Department of Energy from the approval process.
This week’s vote will be very clear.
Do you support American workers and American energy, or do you support the energy from authoritarian regimes?
I urge my colleagues to support this rule, and reserve the balance of my time.”