The House Energy and Commerce Energy and Power Subcommittee passed The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act (H.R. 6) on April 9, and the full Energy and Commerce Committee marked up the bill on April 29 and 30. The bill would expedite approval for U.S. companies to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to World Trade Organization countries.

Companies currently can only legally export LNG to countries that share a free trade agreement with the U.S. There are no operational LNG export facilities in the U.S. at present, but this bill aims to expand the export market in anticipation of several facilities coming online within the next few years. The subcommittee approved H.R. 6 by a vote of 15-11, with an amendment requiring exporters to publicly disclose the location of LNG destinations. The full committee marked up the bill to include requirements for quicker federal decisions on export applications.

The legislation will move on to the House as a whole for consideration.

Sources: E&E News, House Energy and Commerce Committee