“Lifting the ban on crude exports will put Americans to work, enhance our national security, and lower gas prices,” said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) in a press release. Barton is chair emeritus of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and introduced the bill in February. The bill “prohibits any federal official from imposing or enforcing any restriction on the export of crude oil,” according to a summary of the bill, which passed the House on a 261-159 vote. The committee held a hearing on the bill in July.
During the floor debate on Friday, Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) referred to the bill as “much needed legislation which would lift the arbitrary ban on the export of one of our country's most abundant natural resources, crude oil.” “The current ban on exports is a relic of a different time, before we as a nation knew just how much crude oil we have stored in the earth across this country,” said Bishop. “We are in the position of showing the world that we can provide a stable source of energy to friendly countries around the globe,” he said. “Our supplies will dilute the market share of unfriendly countries and weaken their grip on our democratic ally nations who have to depend on some of our unfriendly countries for their oil supply. We can provide an alternative source to those who don't want to support our adversaries and their adversaries.”
But Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) criticized the bill, saying, “Given the continued dependence of our economy and our military on oil, energy independence remains critical to our national defense. But with little consideration of any national security implications, this bill allows unlimited exports of a critical strategic resource.” “Under current law, the president can allow exports of crude oil if he finds they are in the national interest,” said Eshoo. “This bill would allow unlimited exports regardless of whether they are in the national security interest of the United States or not.”
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