Whereas, on January 26, 2024, the Biden administration announced it is indefinitely pausing the issuance of permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to projects under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b ); Whereas the administration’s indefinite pause on LNG export permitting, with no clear plans or timelines for reinstating the permitting process, is effectively a ban on the issuance of LNG export permits; Whereas the administration’s ban on the issuance of LNG export permits will apply to United States partners across the globe, including critical allies in Europe; Whereas, according to the Energy Information Administration, over 50 percent of LNG exported from the United States is exported to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands, and that the new export projects to these countries will be banned by the administration’s action; Whereas the export of LNG is a critical component of United States partnerships and projection of influence in Europe; Whereas preventing Russian domination of the European continent is a key strategic goal of the United States; Whereas the Russian Federation has used natural gas exports to gain leverage over United States European allies, including through constructing major pipeline networks to Europe, such as Nord Stream and Yamal-Europe; Whereas a ban on the issuance of permits for United States LNG exports to Europe would disrupt United States economic and security partnerships with European allies; Whereas European dependency on Russian natural gas is only encouraged by the administration’s ban on LNG export permitting; Whereas the export of LNG is a significant part of the United States energy industry, creating quality jobs for working class Americans; Whereas the extraction, processing, and shipping of LNG is a critical part of local economies across the United States; Whereas banning LNG export permitting under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b ) would negatively impact the United States economy