Vets4Energy stresses national security in urging Congress to lift federal ban on crude oil exports

Vets4Energy, a U.S. military veterans group advocating for energy policies to sustain the country's national security, met Oct. 1 with dozens of legislators to promote Senate action to lift the ban on U.S crude oil exports.

Vets4Energy stressed the significance of sound energy policies to boost national security in meetings with 50 U.S. Senators and dozens of House members in Washington, D.C. 

Addressing the benefits that national security would bring to other energy policies, including increasing access to offshore oil and natural gas development, fixing the Renewable Fuel Standard, supporting use of hydraulic fracturing and approving the Keystone XL Pipeline, the group also met with a bipartisan group of House members, all of whom are themselves veterans, that included Reps. Mike Conaway (R-TX), Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Bill Johnson (R-OH).

Advances in high volume hydraulic fracturing have freed up energy reserves long-believed to be out of reach. Vets4Energy believes that those reserves can be safely added to America’s energy resource mix, putting a cushion between the nation and those energy markets and producers hostile to America’s national interest.

“We need policies that will ensure that America maintains its position as a global energy leader and further transition our nation from importing energy from unstable and unfriendly nations,” Vets4Energy National Liaison Don Loren said.  

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) said a final bill should address the impact on refinery workers and waterway operators he worries would be put out of work. He also said that Congress could require oil exporters to use only American-made products to get the oil to market.

Senators and staff who had not previously considered national security implications of lifting the ban thanked the veterans for their perspective and for their continued service to the nation.

On the same day that Vets4Energy gathered with lawmakers, the Senate Banking Committee voted 13-9 to lift the ban.

Vets4Energy travels to Washington, DC annually to advocate about energy’s relationship to security issues.