WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Rick Scott led Senator Marco Rubio and members of the Florida Delegation in the House of Representatives in sending a bicameral letter to President Joe Biden regarding deep concerns about the Biden administration’s pause in approving new export permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects, particularly as it pertains to the state of Florida. The Biden administration’s pause on domestically produced LNG permits will force consumers to depend on other countries with less stringent environmental regulations, such as Russia, China, Venezuela and Iran — sending money that could support American businesses to countries that are our adversaries. Joining Senators Scott and Rubio are Representatives John Rutherford, Byron Donalds, Anna Paulina Luna, Scott Franklin, Gus Bilirakis, Aaron Bean, Kat Cammack, Maria Elvira Salazar, Daniel Webster, Bill Posey, Cory Mills, Neal Dunn and Mario Diaz-Balart.

Read the full letter HERE or below.

February 8, 2024

Dear President Biden:

We are writing to express our deep concerns about your administration’s pause in approving permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects, particularly as it pertains to the state of Florida. The White House’s newly announced “Green New Deal” appeasement policy of pausing pending LNG export projects puts our entire nation’s energy supply and security in jeopardy. The potential suspension of pending non-Free Trade Agreement (FTA) export permit applications, as outlined in the "LNG Plan" is an issue of significant importance for Florida and could have wide-ranging economic, environmental, and national security consequences both at home and abroad.

Florida plays a pivotal role in the broader landscape of U.S. LNG exports, and any decisions made in this regard will have a direct impact on our state's economy and security. We believe that a thorough consideration of Florida's unique circumstances and advantages is essential in shaping national policy on LNG exports. And further, a proper understanding and consideration of U.S. LNG exports on global energy markets and U.S. and allied interests is required before instituting such a shamefully transparent giveaway to radical climate activists.

U.S. LNG exports have proven to be a lifeline for countries across the globe, including those in Europe. Notably, nearly half of U.S. LNG exports have been directed to Europe, especially during critical times such as Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, where an increase in European imports of LNG by 60 percent in 2022 was met by U.S. LNG. This underscores Florida's vital role in contributing to global energy security.

In the absence of U.S. LNG exports, European nations would face the difficult choice of either depriving their citizens of energy or supporting Russia through energy dependence. Additionally, considering the recent increase in Russia's LNG exports and the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East threatening shipping lanes, maintaining a stable and secure supply of U.S. LNG is crucial for safeguarding the nation's energy security, providing global energy stability, and maintaining a stable domestic energy economy.

Furthermore, as an energy exporting state, Florida's impact extends to Asia, where U.S. LNG has significantly contributed to the energy security of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and India – to name a few. With these nations collectively accounting for one-fifth of U.S. LNG exports, it is evident that Florida's role transcends regional boundaries, making a substantial contribution to global energy stability and providing them with a superior alternative to reliance on adversaries such as Communist China for energy security.

Florida's unique position in exporting LNG also aligns with efforts to reduce emissions. By restricting American LNG exports, global emission reduction goals are hampered by encouraging malign, anti-American regimes with less stringent environmental regulations, such as Russia, China, Venezuela and Iran, to increase energy production and encourage energy consumers to use less clean forms of energy. Further, in the long term, this misguided policy propels these adversaries to develop or gain more future LNG market share, contravening U.S. policy by enriching Putin, Maduro, and the mullahs in Iran and diminishing the impact of U.S. and global sanctions.

Lastly, the economic benefits of U.S. LNG exports are significant, and Florida stands to gain substantially. According to available data, increased exports of U.S. LNG could create jobs and boost GDP. Given the recent growth in Florida's domestic LNG industry, the economic benefits to the state could be even more substantial, but this pause puts future job development on hold.

In conclusion, we strongly urge you to reconsider your actions that impede America’s future leadership on LNG exports and properly align your policy review with continued real-world needs. This includes allowing the LNG export review process to continue unencumbered while your new green climate activist political appeasement review is undertaken. At a time when the world is teetering on the edge of World War III, depriving America of continued leadership growth over a reliable and comparatively clean form of energy is harmful at best and maniacal at worst.

The security of our nation, partnership with our allies, progress on emissions reduction, stability of global energy markets, and future job development in Florida and across our nation, should not all be put on “pause” while the Department of Energy does its own internal assessments. Representing the great state of Florida, we believe it is our duty to champion, rather than undermine, the crucial contributions of American LNG exports and the associated environmental, economic, and national security benefits for our state, our country, and our allies.

Sincerely,

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