WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 351, the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act, by a vote of 277 to 133. Forty-one House Democrats voted in favor of the bill. H.R. 351 will expedite the approval process for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits to countries which do not have free trade agreements with the United States.

Senators Barrasso and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced the Senate companion bill (S. 33) to H.R. 351 on the first day of session. Their bill will be the focus of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s first hearing of the new Congress this Thursday, January 29th.

“The House vote today brings us one step closer to making timely LNG exports a reality. Study after study has shown that LNG exports will create good-paying jobs across America, help reduce our nation’s trade deficit, and increase the energy security of key U.S. allies and partners.

“Americans expect Congress and the President to work together to get things done that will help grow our economy and put people back to work. Exporting American natural gas is one policy that will have a positive impact in the United States and throughout the world.

“On Thursday, the Senate Energy Committee will hold its first hearing of the year on the bipartisan companion LNG export legislation that Senator Heinrich and I have introduced. I look forward to hearing the testimony and working with members of the Committee to pass this critical energy and jobs legislation as soon as possible.”

Background:

Senators Barrasso and Heinrich introduced S. 33, the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act on January 6, 2015. The bipartisan legislation specifically requires the Secretary of Energy to make a decision on any LNG export application within 45 days after the environmental review document for the project is published.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Barrasso-Heinrich legislation on Thursday, January 29th. The hearing starts at 9:30 am EST and will feature testimony from the Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Christopher Smith and other witnesses. For a detailed list of hearing witnesses and information on how you can watch Thursday’s hearing, please click here.

In addition to Barrasso and Heinrich, Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), John Hoeven (R-ND), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Tom Udall (D-NM) are cosponsors of the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act.

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