Washington, D.C.—Today, in response to reports that Russia’s state-owned monopoly, Gazprom, cut gas supplies to Ukraine, Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, released the following statement: 

“This act of aggression further escalates the need for the U.S. to increase its exports of liquefied natural gas to our NATO and European allies.

 As tensions in the region continue to rise, Russia has demonstrated a consistent pattern of using its energy resource dominance as a political and economic weapon.

"The time is now for the President to follow the leadership of the House and support critical legislation that helps our allies diversify their energy resources and bolsters security throughout the region,” said Congressman Turner. 

Next week, the House of Representatives will vote on H.R. 6, The Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, which would require the Department of Energy to make a decision within 90 days of enactment on pending permits to export U.S. natural gas to non-Free Trade Agreement countries.  Currently, expedited approval is reserved exclusively for nations that have a free trade agreement with the United States.

Congressman Turner has long worked to lift self-imposed restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports, authoring The American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act to expedite the permit process to export U.S. natural gas to World Trade Organization countries.