Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HINOJOSA. I want to thank Ranking Member Henry Waxman for yielding time to me.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. I am a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation that will help to increase U.S. liquefied natural gas exports and help boost our economy.

In my 15th Congressional District in Texas, oil and natural gas extraction from the Eagle Ford shale has transformed this region, bringing thousands of new jobs, and growing wealth to many rural communities in South Texas.

A study by the University of Texas showed that the Eagle Ford shale has provided a $61 billion impact to Texas and has supported over 116,000 new jobs. More importantly, the boom in American natural gas production has drastically changed our many counties' energy future.

The United States is now the number one natural gas-producing nation in the world. The USA has more than enough natural gas to meet its domestic needs while also exporting to foreign countries at a huge benefit to the United States' economy.

Unfortunately, the existing application process at the Department of Energy has made it burdensome for companies to export liquefied natural gas to non-FTA countries. This bill will address that problem.

Mr. Chairman, this is a truly bipartisan effort that will resolve a longstanding issue within our administration on expediting exports of natural gas. Our bill, H.R. 6, will cut the red tape and move quickly to approve all pending liquefied natural gas applications at the Department of Energy for our WTO allies, and it will provide future applicants with a much more reasonable process.

I want to thank Representatives Cory Gardner and Tim Ryan for introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes.''

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