WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) offered an amendment Friday to legislation authorizing the export of liquefied natural gas that would require this domestic fuel source to be shipped on our U.S.-flagged domestic fleet to strengthen American businesses and jobs.
The measure would also require that LNG exports would not go to countries that sponsor terrorism and cyber-espionage, and that they would not cause seniors to pay more for home heating. The House of Representatives failed to adopt the measure, though.
In two televised appearances, Garamendi spoke up for U.S. jobs in steel and transportation businesses.
"Natural gas is a strategic national asset that must be handled responsibly. If we export LNG, we must ensure that it supports our economic and national security," Garamendi said. "We can't let LNG exports force seniors to pay through the roof just to stay warm, we can't give them as a gift to our enemies, and we can't let this opportunity for growth in the critical maritime sector go to foreign workers.
"Our nation depends on maritime transportation to keep our economy moving," he continued. "In large part due to neglect, this industry has fallen on tough times. The careful, limited export of LNG presents a remarkable opportunity to revitalize our maritime businesses. We must seize the opportunity to bring jobs back to our shipyards and back to our ports. Today's vote is further motivation for our cause."
In an appearance on MSNBC's "The Ed Show," the congressman spoke up for American steel workers and miners whose jobs are threatened from illegal trade dumping, especially from China.
Also Friday, Garamendi took to the House floor to urge Congress to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Bill. If the Highway Trust Fund expires this fall, 700,000 American jobs will be lost. Garamendi proposed that Congress take up the administration's proposal for a transportation bill, the GROW AMERICA Act. The bill would add millions of jobs to the nation's economy while rebuilding our nation's crumbling infrastructure.
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