Unlocking Our Domestic Lng Potential Act of 2025

Floor Speech

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Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kentucky, the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, introduced by my friend and colleague from the 11th District of Texas.

This legislation will streamline regulatory approvals of LNG export facilities to meet the movement of global energy demands.

This legislation removes unnecessary and burdensome reviews at the Department of Energy for exporting U.S. LNG while maintaining the required site and environmental reviews at FERC. Increasing opportunities for exports increases overall U.S. production, putting downward pressures on prices for everyone.

The U.S. LNG industry contributed $44 billion to the economy and supported 220,000 good-paying jobs while providing $11 billion in taxes and royalty payments.

In response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022, American energy producers immediately supplied Europe and our allies with LNG. The U.S. was the number one supplier of LNG to Europe in 2023. Unfortunately, in 2024, the Biden administration took politically motivated actions to place an indefinite ban on LNG export permits to appease the climate lobby. This legislation ensures that future administrations cannot unilaterally prohibit exports of LNG for political purposes.

Nothing in this legislation limits the authority of the President to impose sanctions on foreign governments and does not affect the existing FERC authorities for reviewing facilities for environmental or safety purposes.

H.R. 1949 brings commonsense reforms to treat LNG just like other commodities such as crude oil. In the 114th Congress, I was proud to support legislation from the Energy and Commerce Committee that lifted the crude oil export ban which elevated the United States as the premier global oil producing nation.

This bill will similarly allow our vast natural resources to advance our national security interests.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I thank my friend, the chairman of the committee, for bringing forth this bill.

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