Congressman John Garamendi's Statement on Crude Oil Export Ban Bill

Press Release

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield), Ranking Member of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, voted against the bill to allow unfettered foreign exports of American domestic crude oil. Garamendi stood in strong support of one provision of the bill, which would preserve the sixty-ship Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet essential to our national defense. Yet overall, the bill represents a shocking break from precedent by not requiring the crude oil to be transported on U.S.-flag vessels.

"With this bill, the oil companies win and the American people lose," said Garamendi. "Selling American crude overseas will create big profits for the oil industry, which wasn't willing to cut into its projected $29 billion in additional earnings to ensure our U.S. Merchant Marine would also be allowed to flourish. What's more, the bill would harm American jobs in the domestic refining industry, and could even raise prices for gasoline and jet fuel here at home."

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"If we are to export crude oil, it must be in a way that improves our national security, provides jobs for American mariners, and promotes our domestic shipbuilding industry," continued Garamendi. "As written, this bill has no future. It will not be signed into law until it includes provisions that are truly in the national interest. I will continue to develop commonsense policies to improve our security and support the American worker."

Garamendi also has concerns about the environmental impact of the legislation. "This is likely to be a signature piece of energy legislation passed by this Congress," he said. "It ought to have provisions to support the use of renewable fuels and minimize environmental impact."

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