Gardner Natural Gas Bill Passes House, Ukrainian President calls it Vital

Washington, DC – Thursday, the House of Representatives considered a broad energy package, which included H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. H.R. 6 was introduced by Congressman Cory Gardner (CO-04), and passed out of the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in June of this year. Today’s legislative package also included measures to promote renewable energy technologies and secure access to affordable and reliable electricity sources. It also included H.R. 3, the measure to approve construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. This comprehensive package passed with bipartisan support.

“Today, the House of Representatives voted again to approve my legislation to export liquefied natural gas to our friends around the world,” said Gardner. “We are blessed with an abundance of natural gas in the United States, and have the ability to not only create tens of thousands of new, high-paying jobs here at  home, but create a safer and more secure world by exporting natural gas to our allies who are currently forced to rely on unstable and aggressive regimes to heat their homes and keep their businesses running. 

“I had the pleasure of meeting with President Poroshenko of Ukraine today, and we discussed the importance of liquefied natural gas exports to countries like Ukraine who are currently dependent on Russia for their natural gas supplies. And it’s not just President Poroshenko that is asking the United States to approve natural gas exports, but Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic as well. H.R. 6 passed out of the House with a strong bipartisan vote, but the Senate has failed to act. Without the Senate’s support for this vital legislation, our allies around the world will continue to live with the fear that Russia could cut off their energy supplies at a moment’s notice. 

“In addition to H.R. 6, this legislative package included several other critical pieces of legislation. It is particularly fitting that we once again signaled our support for the Keystone Pipeline tonight, as tomorrow marks the sixth year since the initial application for construction was submitted. There have been numerous studies conducted by the current administration that show that the pipeline will have limited adverse effects, while supporting approximately 42,000 jobs and $2 billion in earnings. The Obama Administration has stalled on this project for long enough. It’s time for President Obama to listen to the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the American people and approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.”

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