Barton on LNG Exports: "Removing Government Interference in the Energy Trade is a Win-Win for America"

Statement

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Chairman Emeritus and senior Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, submitted for the record the following opening statement Tuesday at the Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing entitled "H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act:"

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this legislative hearing on H.R. 6, which I am an original cosponsor of. This Committee has held about four hearings and a forum discussing the need to streamline the regulatory process to approve U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, but it has taken an international conflict in Ukraine and the threat of further Russian aggression to motivate the Congress to do something about it.

"Removing government interference in the energy trade is a win-win for America. We are able to produce more natural gas, creating good jobs and benefiting the economy as a whole, and at the same time we can throw a life line to our allies under threat of another Russia invasion.

"The current process to get LNG projects up and running is simply too slow and unpredictable. Currently, more than 20 export applications are waiting at the Department of Energy and at the current rate it will take years to move through them one-by-one. As DOE stated throughout yesterday's decision granting Jordon Cove approval to export LNG, the opposition's arguments against LNG exports are simply not compelling. Hopefully throughout this hearing those who are undecided will find that there is consensus on this issue.

"Thank you, I yield back."

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