WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement applauding House passage of H.R. 702, a bill to lift the ban on crude oil exports.

“Lifting our nation’s outdated ban on crude oil exports will grow America’s economy and create a million jobs nationwide, including thousands in Louisiana, and that is why I have been fighting so hard to help pass this important legislation,” Rep. Scalise said. “Research even shows it could lower the price Americans pay at the pump, and it will strengthen our national security by helping our allies around the world buy their energy directly from us rather than from nations like Russia and Iran. American crude oil is poised to compete on the world market, and today the House took decisive action to maximize that potential and move our nation’s economy forward. I commend Congressman Joe Barton for his leadership on this issue, and am proud to have worked with him to build the bipartisan support necessary to lift the ban in the House. I strongly urge my Senate colleagues to quickly pass this legislation and put it on the President’s desk so our economy can grow and America’s energy security can be strengthened.”

Background on Scalise involvement in lifting the crude oil export ban:

-As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Scalise submitted an opening statement for the Subcommittee markup ofH.R. 702. The subcommittee unanimously approved the measure on September 10. One week later, the full committee passed the bill.

-In his role as Majority Whip, Scalise has been promoting lifting the ban to his House colleagues.

-Scalise is a cosponsor of H.R. 702, a bill “To adapt to changing crude oil market conditions.”

–Earlier this month, Scalise applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s conclusion that “[p]etroleum product prices in the United States, including gasoline prices, would be either unchanged or slightly reduced by the removal of current restrictions on crude oil exports.”

-In August, Scalise praised the U.S. Department of Commerce for allowing some export swaps of crude oil to Mexico.

-In July, Scalise joined WWL-TV (CBS) in New Orleans to discuss the importance of lifting the ban.