House Passes Pfluger Bill to Streamline U.S. LNG Exports

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman August Pfluger's (TX-11) legislation to slash red tape, streamline American LNG exports, and prevent a future LNG export ban like the one imposed by former President Biden passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. 

This is the seventh bill Congressman Pfluger has secured House passage on this year alone.

The Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act will depoliticize the export of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) by eliminating a duplicative requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize its export. This gives the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) sole authority over the approval process, which provides producers certainty, strengthens global security, and lowers costs for domestic consumers. 

In response to his legislation's passage, Rep. Pfluger said, “Today's House passage of my Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act is another major victory in achieving American energy dominance. My legislation reforms the broken, politically weaponized approval process so we can streamline permitting for exporting LNG once and for all. It's simple: Exporting American LNG strengthens our economy, stabilizes prices, drives much-needed investment in energy infrastructure, and bolsters the energy security of our global partners. I thank my colleagues for supporting this critical legislation, and I urge its swift passage in the Senate under Senator Tim Scott's strong leadership.”

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) leads this legislation in the Senate and applauded its House passage, saying, “Today’s House passage of the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act is a vital step toward strengthening American energy dominance and our national security. By cutting unnecessary red tape and streamlining approvals, this legislation will expand energy production, strengthen our economy, protect families from rising costs, and empower our allies around the world. I thank Rep. Pfluger for his leadership in the House and am pleased to see this legislation advance one step closer to becoming law.”

Text of this legislation is available here.

Several key House Republican leaders praised Rep. Pfluger for his leadership on this critical legislation and its passage:

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (LA-04) said, “President Trump and Congressional Republicans are working together to unleash reliable American energy to lower costs for families, support American workers and energy producers, and ensure America is never again held hostage by radical climate bureaucrats and activists. President Biden’s natural gas export ban was among his most damaging policy decisions, and it was a major setback for American energy, workers, producers, consumers, partners, and allies. The House passage of the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act helps guarantee that a ban is never placed on American LNG exports again, depoliticizes the permitting process, and unleashes American energy producers from the bonds of the Biden-era subversive bureaucratic overreach. This legislation codifies more of President Trump’s executive orders, advances Republicans’ energy dominance agenda, and returns to regular order on LNG exports so America can once again be a leader in the global market.”

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) said, “By unleashing American energy, House Republicans are leading the way to support our nation’s energy security, strengthen our grid, and lower prices for hard-working families, The REFINER Act will help to ensure our refineries are being used effectively to produce the oil, gas, and other critical feedstocks we rely upon while the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act expands American energy production and infrastructure by removing U.S. LNG export restrictions, which the Biden-Harris Administration politicized and abused.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA-01) said, "Currently, any country or entity looking to import or export U.S. natural gas must jump through bureaucratic hoops and obtain multiple permits. The Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act prioritizes American energy production and jobs by cutting burdensome bureaucracy. I’m grateful to Rep. Pfluger for bringing forward this legislation to streamline the export permitting process, promote American energy dominance, and enhance our national security, and am happy to see my colleagues pass it through the House."

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN-06) said, “After four years of Joe Biden and climate alarmists stifling our nation’s energy production, Republicans are making America energy independent again. Chairman Pfluger’s bill, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act, is key to growing our economy, lowering costs, and ensuring the security of American energy production.”

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (MI-09) said, “Republicans are cutting the crushing regulations that have held America’s energy potential hostage. Rep. Pfluger’s bill unleashes U.S. LNG to strengthen our security overseas and deliver lower energy bills for hardworking families.” 

RSC House Energy Action Team (HEAT) Chairman Troy Balderson (OH-12) said, “House Republicans and President Trump remain firm in our commitment to lowering costs for families and restoring American energy dominance. Representing communities atop the Utica and Marcellus shale formations, I’ve seen firsthand how natural gas development strengthens our economy and our national security. Rep. Pfluger’s Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act will streamline the permitting process and unleash America’s full energy potential.”

Western Caucus Chairman Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) said, "Today, the House took a major step to unleash America’s LNG potential. For too long, unnecessary roadblocks have slowed our energy growth and held back American workers. This legislation cuts through the red tape, empowers FERC to approve LNG export facilities, and ensures our energy resources benefit our nation first. By advancing this commonsense policy, we’re creating jobs, strengthening energy independence, and securing America’s position as a global energy leader. I want to thank Representative Pfluger for his leadership in getting this important legislation across the finish line.”

Additionally, several key groups came out in support of Rep. Pfluger's legislation before the vote, including American Energy Alliance, American Petroleum Institute (API), American Exploration & Production Council (AXPC), Americans for Prosperity, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, Concerned Veterans for America, and Independent Women’s Voice. Following its passage, API and AXPC released statements applauding it:

Parker D. Kasmer, AXPC Vice President of Government Affairs, said, “Today, the House took a much-needed step towards unleashing America's energy potential to provide our allies abroad with clean, secure, and affordable LNG while strengthening our domestic economy. We applaud Representative August Pfluger for championing this commonsense legislation.”

Kristin Whitman, API SVP of Federal Relations, said, “U.S. LNG is a cornerstone of America’s economic strength, job creation, and global energy leadership. We thank Rep. Pfluger for his leadership in advancing this important legislation, and we look forward to working with Congress and the Trump administration to ensure America remains a dependable energy partner for our allies around the world.”

Background:

As part of its war on American energy, the previous administration implemented a ban on issuing LNG export permits to non-FTA countries based on a flawed review of the climate impacts of American LNG. During this ban, America's energy dominance took a major hit. Russia overtook the U.S. as Europe’s leading gas supplier. Long-term American contracts were not only jeopardized, but they were also damaged, and our global buyers were forced to look to sources from adversarial countries. 

Rep. Pfluger has led on this issue for years, including blasting the Biden administration in 2024 for using the flawed climate study to shut down LNG exports. 

This ban wasn’t to help the environment or lower prices for American families. It was to satisfy radical green activists. We know this because even after independent experts uncovered major flaws in the study used to justify the freeze, the Biden administration doubled down on its decision. Senior officials deliberately hid reports that undermined the ban it had placed. 

Thankfully, President Trump quickly reversed this ban, and LNG export approvals have now resumed. But the structural problem remains: the Department of Energy still holds discretionary authority over LNG export authorizations — the very authority used to impose the ban. This legislation is crucial to ensuring no future administration can weaponize the DOE and unilaterally shut down LNG exports again.

Equally important, the bill recognizes that FERC is the appropriate agency to oversee LNG export approvals. FERC already conducts the full environmental review, analysis, assessment, and public comment process for LNG facilities under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act. DOE’s additional “public interest” review adds no meaningful value and creates a duplicative chokepoint. Consolidating authority within FERC provides a single, streamlined, transparent process that gives producers certainty and protects U.S. and allied energy security.

Rep. Pfluger and Senator Scott's legislation has received overwhelming support from their colleagues. Original co-sponsors include Representatives John Joyce (PA-13), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Victoria Spartz (IN-05), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Lauren Boebert (CO-04), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Roger Williams (TX-25), Troy Balderson (OH-12), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Randy Weber (TX-14), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pete Sessions (TX-32), Brian Babin (TX-36), John Carter (TX-31), Clay Higgins (LA-03), Carol Miller (WV-01), Harriet Hageman (WY-At Large) and Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Budd (R-NC), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Rick Scott (R-FL). It has additional support from 24 other members in the House and two in the Senate.