Top progressives are calling on President Joe Biden to reject a Republican plan that would tie U.S. assistance to Ukraine to the unfreezing of approvals for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits. Democrats and environmental groups argue that reversing the pause on new LNG permits is not in the best interest of American families, the economy, or the fight against climate change. The GOP-led House voted to roll back the freeze on LNG permits, citing its impact on industry jobs, but the bill is expected to face opposition in the Democratic-held Senate. The Biden administration announced the temporary pause in January to assess the environmental impacts of LNG exports, given that the U.S. is the number one exporter of LNG globally.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has advocated for resuming LNG permitting as a way to counter Vladimir Putin’s war efforts in Ukraine. Progressives and environmental groups are pushing back against the idea, arguing that now is the time to reevaluate the impact of LNG exports on the climate and local communities. They believe that allowing LNG exports to continue would benefit Big Oil and Gas companies at the expense of frontline communities and the fight against climate change. The Biden administration is under pressure to maintain the pause on LNG exports and not give in to Republican demands.
Stevie O’Hanlon, a spokesperson for the Sunrise Movement, a youth-led climate group, emphasized the importance of pausing LNG exports as a popular and sensible decision. O’Hanlon argued that gas companies should not be allowed to profit from exporting gas while working-class people bear the brunt of the climate crisis. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) supports the Senate-passed bill that includes military aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza, as the best path forward. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell has cautioned against delaying aid to Ukraine by introducing additional conditions, such as turning aid into a loan.
The debate over resuming LNG exports as a condition for providing aid to Ukraine has raised concerns about potential delays in delivering much-needed assistance. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) pointed out that introducing new conditions, such as ending the LNG pause, could further delay the process of providing aid to Ukraine. A bipartisan group called Republicans for Ukraine supports prioritizing a vote on the Senate-passed bill, arguing that time is of the essence in providing assistance to Ukraine. Despite the support for the Senate bill, there are opposing views on how best to move forward in delivering aid to Ukraine efficiently and effectively. The political debate surrounding the issue highlights the challenges of balancing energy policy, foreign aid, and national security objectives.
