WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to reverse President Joe Biden’s freeze on new liquid natural gas exports.
The LNG exports had skyrocketed as the U.S. urged European allies of Ukraine to stop buying Russian natural gas and buy American. U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, (R-Texas), said the temporary pause would send that money right back to our adversaries.
“Not only is President Biden cutting off our allies at the knees, but this move will also raise global and domestic prices,” Pfluger said.
The Biden Administration ordered the freeze to study the exports’ impacts on the economy, climate change and national security. However, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, (R-La.), argued the administration already knows that answer.
“We do it cleaner and better than anywhere else in the world,” Scalise said.
Nine Democrats sided with Republicans, but not U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, (D-N.J.).
“This is just another Republican bill that puts polluters over people,” Pallone said.
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, (D-Ill.), also opposed the measure, arguing the U.S. is still on track to triple its LNG exports.
“Just based on the stuff that’s already permitted in the pipeline,” Casten said. “Nothing to do with what’s going on today.”
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it’s unlikely to pass.
The Biden administration has not said how long the temporary pause will last but could allow exceptions if necessary.
