GOP senators introduce bill reversing LNG export pause

GOP Sens. John Barrasso (Wyo.) and Bill Cassidy (La.), two of the Senate’s most outspoken critics of the Biden administration’s energy policies, introduced a bill Wednesday that would reverse a federal pause on new exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The pause, announced in January, is set to suspend new export approvals to countries without free-trade agreements with the U.S. while the administration reviews the effects of LNG shipping on climate change. The decision will not affect existing exports, which increased substantially to Europe after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

The Senate Republicans’ bill would require that the Energy Department approve LNG exports to any country that currently imports Russian or Iranian natural gas or have in the past. 

“President Biden’s decision to stop approving LNG exports is a disaster. We already know LNG exports are good for American workers, our economy, our national security, and the planet. We don’t need a new study to make that clear,” Barrasso said in a statement.

“The President’s decision will only force our allies and partners to import energy from Russia, Iran, and Qatar. Our bill will reverse President Biden’s decision and support American energy production.”

Barrasso, the top Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, has been a consistent opponent of the administration when it comes to energy.

The bill introduction also comes as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) confirmed he will leave his leadership role, leaving Barrasso, the Senate’s No. 3 Republican, as a potential successor. Barrasso said Wednesday that he is focused on the 2024 elections. 

While much of the backlash against the pause has come from Republicans, it has also come from Barrasso’s Democratic counterpart on the energy committee, Chair Joe Manchin (W.Va.), who called the pause “reckless” and held a hearing on the subject earlier this month.

The Hill has reached out to the Energy Department for comment.