House Energy and Commerce Committee approves legislation to undo crude oil export ban

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September 17, 2015

On September 17, The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation amending the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (P.L. 94-163) to repeal the restriction on exporting crude oil in the United States.

The bill, H.R.702, was introduced by Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) and strives to end the 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports in order to adapt to changing crude oil market conditions. According to the bill, removing the export ban will, “provide domestic economic benefits, enhance energy security, and will provide more flexibility in foreign diplomacy.” 

The bill also calls for the repeal of the export restriction of other natural resources, including coal, petroleum products, natural gas, and petrochemical feedstocks. According to the Congressional Research Service, H.R. 702 would also prohibit any federal official from imposing or enforcing restrictions on the exports.

The bill has not yet been considered by the full House of Representatives.

Sources: eenews, Congressional Research Service, congress.gov, house.gov