WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) in introducing the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act, which would remove federal regulatory bottlenecks to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and support domestic energy jobs.

“Louisiana is the nation’s number one exporter of liquefied natural gas, but we’re taking a beating at the hands of President Biden. LNG exports sustain Louisiana jobs, promote America’s energy independence and reduce global emissions. We should make it easier—not harder—to export American LNG, and that’s what this bill would do,” said Kennedy.

“Thanks to the United States’ innovation and use of clean natural gas, America leads the world in reducing carbon emissions. By exporting U.S. LNG, the United States creates thousands of jobs at home, reduces global emissions, and promotes energy independence from those who use it as a weapon to exert control over importing countries,” said Cruz.

This legislation would bolster America’s energy independence at home and supply our allies abroad, especially our European allies, who are acutely affected by strains on reliable fuel supply because Russia invaded Ukraine. Increasing LNG exports would broaden access to clean, affordable energy with American trading partners and counter the Biden administration’s full-frontal assault on the U.S. fossil fuel industry in the process.

As hostile, authoritarian regimes look to challenge America’s position on the world stage, leveraging LNG exports is integral to investing in America’s energy security, thereby strengthening its national security.

Kennedy and Cruz also introduced the Natural Gas Export Expansion Act last Congress.

Background:

The Natural Gas Export Expansion Act would:

• Amend the Natural Gas Act to expedite non-free trade agreement (FTA) export permits. This would ensure applications for exporting LNG to certain non-FTA countries would be treated the same as applications for exporting LNG to FTA countries and receive the same accelerated approval process.

• Retain current law for restricted nations. Any nation subject to sanctions or trade restrictions is specifically excluded, and the president or Congress can specifically exclude any nation from expedited approval.

The bill text is available here.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today joined Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) in introducing the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) to help law-abiding gun owners better access suppressors to preserve their hearing and safety. The HPA would reclassify suppressors so that they receive the same regulation as traditional firearms, removing regulatory burdens.

“Making it easier to buy and transfer suppressors would help protect law-abiding gun owners’ hearing now and into the future. There’s no reason not to take this commonsense step,” said Kennedy. 

“The Hearing Protection Act will benefit Idaho’s sportswomen and men by ensuring they have access to adequate hearing protection while hunting and participating in other recreational shooting sports,” said Crapo. “Law abiding Americans enjoying the recreational freedoms provided under the Second Amendment should not have to wade through overly-burdensome regulations in order to protect their hearing." 

Suppressors are currently subject to additional regulatory burdens under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The HPA would remove suppressors from regulation under the NFA and replace the overly burdensome federal transfer process with an instantaneous background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This process would make the purchasing and transfer process for suppressors equal to that for a rifle or shotgun.

By taxing suppressors under the Pittman-Robertson Act, rather than the NFA, the bill would also generate funding for state wildlife conservation agencies.

The legislation does not impact any state laws that prevent suppressors, and it does not eliminate background check requirements.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $6,068,430 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster aid grants for Louisiana.

“Louisianians are no strangers to natural disasters, but Hurricanes Ida and Zeta wreaked havoc on New Orleans and other parts of our state. This $6 million will support Louisiana’s recovery from these storms,” said Kennedy.

The FEMA aid will fund the following:

• $4,867,553 to the city of New Orleans for debris removal related to Hurricane Ida.
• $1,200,877 to the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness for costs related to Hurricane Zeta.

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), along with a bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers, introduced the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems (RISEE) Act. This legislation would reform the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) to lift a current revenue cap that unfairly penalizes Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.

The RISEE Act would secure more shared resources among Gulf states, the federal government and conservation programs from the revenue generated by offshore oil, gas and wind leases. Specifically, this proposed legislation would ensure that a larger cut of Gulf states’ offshore energy profits would fund coastal protection and restoration as well as other environmental priorities in Louisiana.

“GOMESA’s current cap unfairly targets our state. Louisianians work hard to provide America with reliable, affordable energy, and they deserve their fair share from that energy production. Our communities depend on these resources to defend our coastlines against hurricanes and other natural disasters, so amending the GOMESA cap is crucial to protecting Louisiana lives and livelihoods. There’s still more to be done, but this bill is a welcome step forward,” said Kennedy.

“With strong bipartisan support and movement through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year, we look forward to advancing the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems (RISEE) Act this Congress. Louisiana has learned to use money from offshore energy production to rebuild our coastline and protect our communities. This bill takes the lessons that Louisiana has learned, adds more funding, and serves as a model for other coastal states,” said Cassidy. 

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee previously passed the RISEE Act in the 117^th Congress. 

Kennedy also formerly introduced similar legislation, the Offshore Cap Parity Act, to eliminate the GOMESA cap.

Background:

GOMESA divides federal revenues from the offshore energy production of Gulf states into three portions. The federal government returns 37.5 percent of this revenue to Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The Land and Water Conservation Fund receives 12.5 percent of offshore revenue, which largely invests in the needs of landlocked states. The final 50 percent of Gulf energy revenue goes to the U.S. Treasury.

The GOMESA cap limits the dollar value of Gulf states’ 37.5 percent revenue share to $375 million, meaning those states receive no benefit when the energy sector peaks and revenues surpass the cap. Conversely, the Mineral Leasing Act ensures that states with onshore drilling operations receive 50 percent of their revenues, and there is no cap on how much money that share can include.

States with onshore energy production typically aren’t required to spend that revenue on environmental priorities. Louisianians, however, have previously voted in favor of dedicating their state’s share of offshore energy revenue to coastal conservation and restoration projects. Such projects may include updating levee systems and shoring up silt to bolster Louisiana’s coastal defenses. These investments mitigate damage to communities, local wildlife and other natural resources.