Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) introduced the American Gas for Allies Act to allow U.S. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to receive expedited approval from the Department of Energy to export LNG from the U.S. to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries.  Under the Natural Gas Act, countries that have free trade agreements with the U.S. automatically receive expedited approval from the Department of Energy to import or export LNG.  Because no free trade agreements currently exist between the U.S. and European nations, however, European countries must initiate a lengthy application process to import or export LNG with the United States. 

“In this historic moment, the United States and our NATO allies must respond to President Putin’s aggression with strength,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “Helping reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian natural gas—now and in the future—is an important part of that effort to show that Putin’s unprovoked and unjustified war of choice in Ukraine will not go without serious repercussions.  I am proud to introduce the American Gas for Allies Act to boost our federal response by working with our NATO allies to expedite the exportation of American Liquefied Natural Gas to help secure Europe’s energy supply and defense.” 

The American Gas for Allies Act would designate applications at the Department of Energy for the exportation of natural gas from the U.S. to NATO countries be granted without modification or delay for a three-year period.  In addition to NATO members, any other foreign nation can qualify when the Secretary of State—in consultation with the Secretaries of the Department of Defense and Department of Energy—determines it is in the national strategic defense interests of the United States to do so. 

As part of her efforts to help promote American energy in Europe, Congresswoman Fletcher also recently introduced the American Energy For Europe Act to establish a program at the Department of Energy to assist our European partners in replacing Russian natural gas, oil, and nuclear supplies with American energy. 

Full text of the American Gas for Allies Act can be found here.