Press Releases

On Thursday, Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. called out Congressional Democrats for voting to grant Iran the ability to export oil, while at the same time supporting a ban on the export of U.S. crude oil.

“I find it hard to believe that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have voted to allow Iran to export their oil, but won’t vote to allow America to export our oil,” Bucshon assertedduring a House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on H.R. 702. The legislation would lift the nearly 40-year-old ban on U.S. crude oil exports and passed the committee by a bipartisan vote of 31 to 19.

Following his vote on H.R. 702, Bucshon remarked, “studies show that exporting U.S. crude oil will help drive down the price the American people pay at the pump, will lead to an increase in household disposable incomes, and will create good-paying jobs here at home. It will also enhance our national security by giving our allies the opportunity to import American oil instead of oil from countries like Iran.”

Watch the hearing video by clicking here: https://youtu.be/o9orpB9oi1w. The text is available in full below.

“When we talk about national security, helping our allies in Central and Eastern Europe is a national security issue. Just look at what happened in Crimea.

“I also find it hard to believe that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have voted to allow Iran to export their oil, but won’t vote to allow America to export our oil.

“And the last point is, if American companies are profitable, they create jobs. That’s what this [H.R. 702] is about.” 

BACKGROUND:

Lifting the ban on oil exports will help create jobs, lower energy prices, and boost America’s standing around the globe. Studies have shown that lifting the ban would create nearly one million new jobs across the United States and help keep prices lower at the pump.  A Brookings Institute study found that, “Lifting the ban actually lowers gasoline prices by increasing the total amount of crude supply.” H.R. 702 would also give our allies around the world the opportunity to import American oil instead of Russian or Iranian oil – providing the United States with new trading partners and increasing leverage in the global marketplace

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.  

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