Jeff Duncan

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I am thankful, once again, for the bipartisan nature of this legislation. I thank Ranking Member DeGette on the subcommittee and Ranking Member Pallone and their staff for all they have done. Let's get this passed. Let's work with our Senate colleagues. Let's get something to the President's desk and get something signed into law to move the Nation forward. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, thank goodness for the policies of the last administration. This administration seems to be touting that it has increased production. That came about because of policies of the Trump administration, when, on day one, the Biden administration shut down oil and gas leases, stopped American energy production, shut down pipeline projects, and thwarted the American energy sector. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1009, I call up the bill (H.R. 7176) to repeal restrictions on the export and import of natural gas, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7176.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024. I am a proud cosponsor of this legislation, which my friend and colleague from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), has introduced. Since day one, President Biden has issued executive orders and given direction to the Federal agencies across the government to shut down American energy production, even at the expense of jobs, economic development, national security, and the climate. President Biden's decision to ban LNG exports in an election year is putting politics over people. Let's be clear. The Biden administration does not appear to be against all oil and gas production--just American energy. They begged OPEC to increase production, and they are turning a blind eye to Russia. Russia is exporting 40 percent more LNG to Europe today than it was before the invasion of Ukraine. Russia's energy exports are funding its war against Ukraine, padding the pockets of Vladimir Putin. The reality is that global demand for natural gas is expected to increase 46 percent by 2050, and our European and Asian allies who want to do business with the United States of America now have to look to Qatar or to Russia or even to Iran to meet their growing energy needs. LNG exports strengthen America's energy security, create jobs, and decrease energy prices here at home through American production. U.S. LNG exports could support up to 452,000 additional American jobs and add up to $73 billion in the U.S. economy by 2040. This bill will help deliver affordable, reliable, and cleaner burning American energy to Americans, create jobs, and strengthen our global leadership. Let's vote to unlock our domestic LNG potential. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the third time is the charm. Let's get it done. House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have focused on four main components: produce, deliver, utilize, and export. Produce the abundant resources we have in this country. Deliver those resources through pipelines, the need for pipeline permitting reform and buildout infrastructure. Utilize resources to provide reliable, affordable, and clean energy for Americans. Export to help our friends and allies around the globe to lower their carbon emissions and meet their energy needs, especially in Europe where they faced the invasion from Vladimir Putin into Ukraine. They had a reality check on energy. They looked west to the United States to export more. We can do it, and we need to do it through LNG exports. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the chairwoman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise). We are glad the majority leader of the House is back in Congress.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), the author of this bill.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie), who chairs the Health Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, the fear-mongering from the Democrats is ludicrous. Spot prices for natural gas in December 2023 were only 53 cents higher than they were in 2016. We can export American natural gas, produce more natural gas in this country, and help Americans and help our allies and friends around the world with their energy security, with their quality of life, and with their standard of living. Dr. Joyce from Pennsylvania knows it well because he represents the Marcellus shale. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin is selling 40 percent more natural gas to Europe now than he did before the Ukraine war. By not selling Europe American LNG, the administration is putting money in Vladimir Putin's pockets for him to fund the war. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas knows about energy. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I love to hear the Democrats talk about increased production and the levels of production now. These projects don't happen overnight. They started during the Trump administration with their policies. Go back to the Obama administration, where oil and gas production increased on State and private land, not Federal land, because the Obama administration was against that. Then, President Trump opened up more Federal land. However, on day one, President Biden signed executive orders to stop oil and gas leasing on Federal land. He shut down the Keystone pipeline. My Democratic colleagues have thwarted energy projects over and over. This is another attempt to stop LNG export, and it hurts our friends and allies across the globe. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Balderson).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter), who is the new chair of the Energy and Commerce Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Materials Subcommittee.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, after we lifted the crude oil export ban, Americans know what they were paying at the pump before the Biden administration. They were paying lower gas prices. They are paying much higher gas prices, commodity prices. Everything has gone up due to the Biden inflation. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman), who understands natural resources. He chairs the Natural Resources Committee.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the United States of America is blessed with abundant natural resources. Unfortunately, we are cursed with liberal politicians who don't want American companies and American investors and entrepreneurs to go after the resources to help Americans. When we had a spike in energy prices during the Biden administration, President Biden didn't fly to Midland, Texas; he didn't fly to North Dakota; he didn't fly to Louisiana and beg those producers to produce more. Where did he fly? He flew to Saudi Arabia to beg the OPEC cartel to produce more so that we could import it--political stunt there--to help lower prices for Americans versus using American resources and American companies and American jobs. This indefinite pause on LNG exports is misguided, but Americans need to know this wasn't an executive order that had no input from the public. It wasn't a piece of legislation that passed. He did it by a press release, directing an agency to pause LNG exports. Let's talk about Ukraine today. We have heard a lot of that. Vladimir Putin and his energy oligarchs are exporting to Europe 40 percent more than they did before the war in Ukraine. That is more money flowing right into the pocket of Vladimir Putin to fund his war effort in Ukraine. I would rather that money flow into the pockets of American energy producers and tax bases and to communities all around this country that produce energy by exporting more to help our friends and allies. America has never used the spigot of energy exported to influence policy in any country, but Vladimir Putin has turned the spigot on and off many times to influence policy in Europe. Let's pass this legislation. Let's continue to export cleaner burning, American-produced natural gas. Let's produce more, deliver more, utilize more, and export more to help our friends and allies around the world improve their quality of life and improve their energy security. Mr. Speaker, this is right for America. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the community and military service of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Vaughan, who celebrated his 100th birthday on December 10, 2023. Lt. Col. Vaughan began his collegiate career in 1941 at Clemson College, which is now known as Clemson University, before leaving school to serve in WWII as a Combat Engineer in the U.S. Army. After his discharge in 1948, Lt. Col. Vaughan returned to Clemson University and completed a degree in Agricultural Engineering. Next, Lt. Col. Vaughan earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In January 1953, Vaughan married Evelyn Lancaster Vaughan, who passed away earlier this year. He then left to defend our country in the Korean War. He would later retire from the U.S. Air Force Reserve after 28 years of faithful service and begin a new career with the South Carolina Soil Conservation Service--where he worked for 28 years before retiring in 1983. Lt. Col. Vaughan is a loving father to three children, with seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Speaker, Charles Vaughan's life is one of devotion to his country and local community. General Douglas MacArthur once said, ``No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.'' After 100 years of life, Lt. Col. Vaughan continues to embody the vigilance that Gen. MacArthur described. I hope he will continue to inspire those around him in the years to come.

Mr. DUNCAN

Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I get to say once again from the House floor, ``Go Tigers,'' as I rise to celebrate the 2023 NCAA men's soccer national champions, the Clemson Tigers. On Monday night, the Clemson men's soccer team took to the pitch to beat Notre Dame and close out the season. This is Clemson's fourth national championship in soccer. They claimed victory in 1984, 1987, 2021, and 2023. With this victory, the soccer program has surpassed football with the most national championships. I am proud to say that Clemson is one of just seven schools with four or more men's soccer national championships. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Head Coach Mike Noonan and each of the players on the team for representing my alma mater and the State of South Carolina so well. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the 2023 NCAA men's soccer national champions, and I congratulate President Clements on the success of this team and the program there at Clemson. Merry Christmas to all. May God bless America. And once again, go Tigers.