HYDE-SMITH BLASTS BIDEN FOR AGAIN PLAYING POLITICS WITH U.S. ENERGY
Miss. Senator, Colleagues Condemn Biden Administration for Pausing U.S. LNG Export Permitting to Appease Radical Environmental Voters
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today blasted the Biden administration for pausing all pending non-free trade agreement export permit applications at the behest of the radical climate lobby.
Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is among 26 Senators who signed a letter to President Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm that outlines the economic and global security risks associated with the administration’s decision to re-evaluate the criteria to approve permits for liquified natural gas (LNG) export projects. U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) led the letter.
“We write to express deep concerns with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) review of criteria necessary to approve permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects and the potential pause to all pending non-FTA export permit applications. This ‘LNG Plan’ drafted without input from Congress could have significant economic, environmental, and national security consequences domestically and globally. It would be reckless to jeopardize our advantage, especially in a world where energy is frequently being used as a geopolitical weapon,” the Senators wrote.
The Senators stressed the importance of U.S.-produced LNG to allies, particularly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They also point out that drawing down U.S. LNG exports will only create a larger market for LNG produced by adversaries like Iran and Russia, which are challenges Hyde-Smith has addressed in Senate hearings.
“Limiting U.S. LNG exports do not have any impact on the world’s demand for natural gas. Instead, countries including Russia and Iran will simply produce more energy that is subject to less stringent environmental regulations. As a result, limiting American LNG exports in the name of stopping climate change could do just the opposite and add to global emissions,” the Senators concluded. “We strongly urge you to stop this shortsighted effort. As the President of the United States and as the Secretary of Energy, you should be championing – not undermining – American LNG exports and the environmental, economic, and national security benefits to the United States and our allies.”
In addition to Cassidy and Hyde-Smith, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and John Kennedy (R-La.) in signing the letter.
Read the signed letter here.
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