Fedorchak votes to lift restrictions on LNG and expand American refining capacity

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today voted in support of two bills that unleash American energy production by lifting restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports and expanding domestic refining capacity.  

“By freezing LNG export permits and allowing America’s refining capacity to erode, the Biden administration left America’s energy supply vulnerable and our energy security weakened,” Fedorchak said. “These bills begin to reverse that trend by cleaning up the permitting mess, evaluating refinery closures, and putting American energy back on solid footing.” 

Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act: 

H.R. 1949, the Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act, lifts outdated federal restrictions on importing and exporting natural gas, overturns the Biden administration’s politically motivated freeze on LNG export permits, and streamlines the approval process for LNG imports and exports. 

Under Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act, the Department of Energy is required to approve natural gas exports to non–Free Trade Agreement countries unless doing so is proven contrary to the public interest, and exports to FTA countries are automatically considered in the public interest.  

In January 2024, President Biden imposed an indefinite ban on new LNG export permits to non-FTA countries while the administration reviewed the “climate impacts” of LNG exports—a political freeze that stalled investment, threatened U.S. energy production, and undermined allies in Europe seeking to move away from Russian gas.  

The Unlocking Our Domestic LNG Potential Act repeals these restrictions and gives FERC sole authority over natural gas import and export applications, creating a clearer, faster permitting system. 

REFINER Act: 

H.R. 3109, the REFINER Act, directs the National Petroleum Council to study opportunities to expand American refining capacity and identify federal and state barriers contributing to refinery closures and declining output.  

Over the last several years, America’s refining capacity has declined due burdensome federal and state policies that make it increasingly difficult to operate refineries. From 2020 to 2022, U.S. refining capacity fell by more than one million barrels per day, and the number of refineries dropped from 135 to 128. This has contributed to seasonal price spikes, greater dependence on foreign energy supplies, and strained markets in regions like the West Coast, where California is set to lose 17 percent of its refining capacity next year because of its hostile regulatory environment.  

The REFINER Act directs the National Petroleum Council to study the state of U.S. refining, identify risks and regulatory barriers, and outline opportunities to expand capacity.  

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