House LNG export measure's sponsor cheers amendment in defense bill

April 28, 2016

The author of a US House bill that aims to facilitate US exports of LNG applauded its adoption as an amendment to the fiscal 2017 defense appropriations bill by the Armed Services Committee on Apr. 27. “That greatly improved its chances of being enacted because the president isn’t about to veto the Department of Defense budget,” said Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio).

“But we’re not taking anything for granted, and plan to keep working to get this done in other ways,” he continued on Apr. 28 in remarks during a Transatlantic Energy Dialogue hosted by LNG Allies.

Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) proposed Johnson’s bill, HR 351, as an amendment to the defense appropriations bill during markup. “Ramping up LNG exports is a win-win for our allies and our economy,” he said after the committee passed the full bill by 60 to 2 votes.

Other House members said at the LNG Allies event that support continues to grow for helping export project sponsors get federal permit and national interest decisions sooner.

The US Department of Energy now spends an average of 200 days after a project’s National Environmental Policy Act review is completed to determine whether LNG exports to countries without a free trade agreement with the US is in the national interest, noted Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.). “The amendment which the Armed Services Committee adopted yesterday would require DOE to reach a decision within 30 days,” he said.

Other countries may have nearly comparable ranges of energy supplies, but they don’t have the US commitment to free market policies, observed Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-Tex.).

‘Exporting freedom’

“We’re the one part of the world that has such a big production development up-side,” he said. “Our capability based on market incentives is higher than the rest of the world combined. Overseas customers deal with private companies and have access to our technology. We’re not just exporting energy. We’re exporting freedom.”

“The US has the opportunity to do with oil and gas what it does in so many other commodity markets: be the stabilizing force,” declared Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “In our state, we understand fossil fuels and stewardship because North Dakota is so agrarian. We understand the global aspect of the commodities we produce. The opportunity to use them as peaceful economic development tools instead of political intimidation devices is important. These tools can create relationships instead of divisions.”

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