Lifting the Crude Oil Ban

Floor Speech

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of lifting the ban on crude oil exports. It means jobs, 500,000 to 1 million jobs across the country and 2,400 jobs in Montana, with a revenue of at least $120 million.

As a former Navy SEAL commander, I understand the importance of national security. I do not want this Nation to be reliant on foreign energy sources and be held hostage by foreign countries for our energy needs.

It has been a longstanding policy of this country to be energy independent, and lifting the crude oil ban is part of that.

Lowering gas prices: All estimates look at lowering the gas prices by 1.5 to 13 cents a gallon. That is real savings to every American family.

I urge the Senate to take this up. This is not a partisan issue. This is not a Republican or a Democrat issue. This is a national security issue. So I ask the Senate to take it up. I am confident it will come out of the House in numbers that are bipartisan.

Anyone who votes against releasing the ban--there is only one country on the face of the planet that has a ban on crude oil, and that is here. Even Iraq and Iran can export their crude.

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