OREANDA-NEWS. April 28, 2016. The American Petroleum Institute applauded the U.S. House Armed Services Committee’s passage of the LNG exports amendment in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act, which would streamline the Department of Energy permit application process and strengthen economic development and energy security in the U.S. and abroad.

“The House Armed Services Committee’s passage of LNG exports legislation is the latest example of bipartisan recognition by Congress that the U.S. is an energy superpower,” said API Executive Vice President Louis Finkel.

“Expanding LNG exports will create American jobs, grow our economy, strengthen the global marketplace and bolster strategic alliances abroad. U.S. LNG exports not only provide international consumers with greater choice, but also help them break dependence on nations that use their energy resources as a diplomatic and political weapon.

“It’s time for our nation to fully embrace the economic and geopolitical opportunities unleashed by the energy renaissance. Accelerating exports of U.S. LNG ensures that consumers across the globe have access to stable, diverse energy supplies, protects America’s role as a global energy leader and further enhances national security in the homeland.”

API thanked the members of the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), and U.S. Reps. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) and Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) for their leadership on this LNG exports amendment, which will establish greater certainty in the LNG export permitting process and accelerate U.S. investment. This amendment is one of several ongoing bipartisan efforts in the House and Senate to get this critical piece of legislation to the president’s desk for signature.

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 650 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.