Flores Votes to Lift Ban on Crude Oil Exports

Statement

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 702, which lifts the ban on crude oil exports. Congressman Bill Flores (R-Texas), an original cosponsor of the bill, issued the following statement regarding its passage:

"The American energy revolution has dramatically improved our energy security and economic opportunity for hardworking American families. Unfortunately, we still have policies in place that reflect a 1970's era of scarcity. These policies are in desperate need of being updated to reflect our current reality of energy abundance. Today, the House took the first steps in modernizing our energy policies through the bipartisan passage of legislation to lift the decades-old ban on crude oil exports.

"Lifting the ban on crude oil exports is important to American jobs, manufacturing and lowering energy costs. It strengthens our economic and national security by providing stable sources of oil for our friends and allies who share our values. It will also bring stability to global energy markets. More importantly, lifting the export ban strengthens our national defense, enhances our geopolitical standing and weakens the standings of countries like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela who are opposed to American interests.

"As opposed to working to increase American energy security, President Obama would rather lift sanctions on Iran and allow them to sell their oil on the global market. By threatening to veto this bipartisan bill, the president is putting the interests of Iranian terrorists above that of hardworking Americans. It is time we lift the ban on crude oil exports so that we can focus on making America a global energy superpower while enhancing America's economy and national security."

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