Westmoreland Review

In a recent House floor debate, Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) managed the Rule Debate on H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act. Reschenthaler expressed his concerns about the Biden administration's energy policies and their impact on American energy independence and national security.

Reschenthaler criticized President Biden's actions, stating, "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." He highlighted the administration's approval of the Nordstream II pipeline, which provides Russian gas to Europe, while blocking the Keystone XL pipeline in the United States.

The congressman also raised concerns about the administration's rules that have negatively affected coal-fired power plants in the United States, while China continues to approve new plants at a rapid pace. Reschenthaler also criticized the administration for depleting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and sending millions of barrels to China, a communist regime.

Reschenthaler further criticized the Biden administration's decision to unfreeze $6 billion in oil sanctions to Iran, just days before Iran funded a terrorist attack on Israel. He stated, "This administration's policies truly embody the slogan: 'America Last.'"

One of the most concerning decisions by the Biden administration, according to Reschenthaler, was the indefinite pause in new approvals of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. He emphasized that this decision puts American jobs and the security of global allies and partners at risk.

Reschenthaler highlighted the importance of LNG exports, stating that our European allies have significantly reduced their reliance on Russian natural gas and increased their import of U.S. LNG in the wake of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He also pointed out the economic benefits of LNG exports, including the potential to contribute $73 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040 and create 453,000 additional jobs.

To address these concerns, House Republicans are bringing the bipartisan Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024 to the floor. This legislation aims to end the Biden Administration's ban on LNG exports and streamline the permitting process by removing the Department of Energy from the approval process.

Reschenthaler concluded his remarks by urging his colleagues to support the rule and vote in favor of American workers and energy independence. He stated, "Do you support American workers and American energy, or do you support the energy from authoritarian regimes?"

The debate on the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024 highlights the ongoing concerns about the Biden administration's energy policies and their impact on American energy independence, national security, and the economy. The decision to pause LNG exports raises questions about the administration's commitment to supporting American jobs and energy security. The upcoming vote on the legislation will determine whether Congress will take action to address these concerns and support the unlocking of the domestic LNG potential.