Kirk Votes to End Outdated Ban on U.S. Crude Oil Exports

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today voted to lift the outdated U.S. ban on crude oil exports and opposed an effort to end the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The American Crude Oil Export Equality Act, S. 1372, passed the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs by a bipartisan 13 to 9 vote. An amendment to repeal the RFS failed by a vote of 7 to 15.

"With Iran preparing to flood the global market with oil once sanctions are lifted, and our allies dependent on hostile powers for oil, it makes no sense to block U.S. oil exports any longer," Senator Kirk said. "It is time to end this outdated, self-imposed ban that puts us at a disadvantage in the global economy."

S. 1372 would lift the crude oil export ban, but restores the ban for up to a year if the President deems it necessary for national security reasons, or if the Commerce or Energy Departments determine there is an oil supply shortage, oil prices are significantly higher than world market levels, or a supply shortage or price spike causes sustained unemployment.

Senator Kirk voted against an amendment to the bill that would have repealed the RFS. Senator Kirk has long been a strong supporter of a fair RFS, which is critical to the Illinois farmers and the state's agriculture economy. Illinois is the nation's number two producer of corn.

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