Scalise Secures An End To The Crude Oil Exports Ban, Strengthens America’s National Defense

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) today praised House passage of a provision within the 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act to lift the decades-old ban on crude oil exports. The House passed the measure 316-113, and the bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

“Lifting the 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports will create thousands more good-paying Louisiana jobs by allowing us to compete globally and undercut our enemies,” Rep. Scalise said. “Not only will scrapping this outdated relic of the 1970s allow hard-working taxpayers to compete on the world market, create hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the nation, and lower prices at the pump—it will also strengthen America’s national security by letting our allies buy energy directly from us, and not from countries likeRussia and Iran. Lifting the ban has been among my top priorities in 2015, and today’s vote is a big win for Louisiana and for conservative principles. I’m honored to have used my seat at the House leadership table to bring this issue to the forefront and help it get signed into law.

“This critical piece of legislation prioritizes national defense while taking money away from radical agencies like the EPA. In addition to strengthening our military, this bill also ends fraud in the visa waiver program by implementing reforms that will block ISIS recruits from exploiting loopholes in this program. The House is doing everything in our power to keep American families safe.”

Speaking with several reporters across the state this week, Congressman Scalise shared the importance of this meaningful victory for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry:

-On WWLTV, Scalise stated: "I've been pushing for this all year to try to find some way to get it to the president's desk in a bill that he'll sign," Scalise said. "I think we finally have the opportunity. I hope by the end of this week, we'll pass the bill out of the House and Senate and get it to the president's desk.”

-In a WRNO article titled “Scalise Pushes End Of Ban On U.S. Oil Exports,” Scalise said: "We now have an abundance of oil, we literally can be a world supplier, way more than enough to meet our own needs but also help our allies around the world so they don't have to buy oil from countries like Russia and Iran."

-In the Daily Advertiser, Scalise was quoted as saying: "Studies indicate lifting the ban would generate more than 5,000 jobs in Louisiana and an estimated 1 million across America, add nearly $300 million to Louisiana's economy and $170 billion annually to our GDP," Scalise said. "This will also lower prices at the pump by as much as 13 cents per gallon and produce an additional 1 million barrels daily if this ban goes away. For too long, this bad policy has been holding back economic opportunities for our job creators.”

-On WWL Radio, Scalise said: "I think we've got a real shot to finally lift this ban on crude oil exports," Scalise told WWL. "It's something that's still on the books since the 1970s. It doesn't make sense and it's clearly holding our economy back."

-The Advocate quoted Scalise: “This is a smart, commonsense policy change that represents a big win for Louisiana and our vital oil and gas industry,” said U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of Jefferson, who has advocated for the change. “Lifting the ban will create thousands of jobs here in Louisiana and nearly 1 million jobs nationwide, while lowering prices at the pump and strengthening our national security. America is the only country in the world with a self-imposed ban on exporting our own crude oil, and it’s time we got rid of this obsolete, job-killing barrier once and for all.”

-In the Times Pic: "Elimination of this ban is going to create thousands of jobs in Louisiana and tens of thousands of jobs across the country," Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, the third highest ranked Republican in the House of Representatives, said Thursday (Dec. 17). "When you look at the impact of global oil prices right now, you're seeing thousands get laid off in Louisiana. You're seeing a lot of wells being shut in around the country, and yet we are the only country in the world that doesn't allow the export of our oil. It makes no sense."

-In The Wall Street Journal: "Republicans said they had gotten the better bargain in ending the oil export ban. 'We’re getting permanent policy in exchange for temporary renewal of those credits,' House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.) said in an interview. 'If you can get permanent policy that you want in exchange for temporary policy that the other side wants, that’s a victory.’”

Here is the background on Congressman Scalise's involvement in lifting the crude oil export ban:

-In November, the House passed H.R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015. This comprehensive American energy bill included an amendment that would lift the ban on crude oil exports.

-In October, the House approved H.R. 702, a bill to lift the ban on crude oil exports. Scalise spoke on the House floor in support of lifting the outdated ban.

-As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C), Scalise submitted an opening statement for the Subcommittee markup ofH.R. 702, The subcommittee unanimously approved the measure in September. Later that month, E&C favorably approved the bill.

-Scalise is a cosponsor of H.R. 702, a bill “To adapt to changing crude oil market conditions.”

-Scalise applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s conclusion that “[p]etroleum product prices in the United States, including gasoline prices, would be either unchanged or slightly reduced by the removal of current restrictions on crude oil exports.”

-In August, Scalise praised the U.S. Department of Commerce for allowing some export swaps of crude oil to Mexico.

-In July, Scalise joined WWL-TV in New Orleans to discuss the importance of lifting the ban

-In his role as Majority Whip, Scalise has been promoting lifting the ban to his House colleagues.