Political Quotes

“There is a really simple question before us today: Is it in the U.S. national interest to look out for U.S. energy consumers or for U.S. energy producers? Let's look at the facts. According to the most recent DOE data over the last decade, U.S. gas consumption is up by about 26 percent; U.S. gas production is up by about 50 percent; and U.S. gas exports are up 326 percent. Ten years ago, just 6 percent of all gas produced in the U.S. was for export. Today, more than 20 percent is for export. That is not because the industry is succeeding. They can't compete against cheaper renewable energy, so they are trying to export overseas, and y'all are helping them out. Those export volumes are going to triple again just based on the stuff that is already permitted in the pipeline--nothing to do with what is going on today. I remind my Republican colleagues, because sometimes we need to remind on this, even in this body where we write the laws, you cannot change the laws of supply and demand. When U.S. natural gas is exported overseas, it reduces domestic supply and increases the price. We know this from recent experience because when the Freeport LNG terminal had that explosion, according to the Department of Energy, domestic prices for natural gas fell by nearly a third. Exporters were very sad that they lost money. Do you know who had more money in their pocket? American consumers. Gas was cheaper. Y'all hate inflation, right? That was wonderful.…”