By Mark Edward Nero
On July 30, U.S. Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced H.R. 5270, the Growing American Shipping Act, which Garamendi said would promote revitalization of the US maritime industry through the export of liquefied natural gas.
The legislation would modernize current laws by authorizing the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a program to promote the export of liquefied natural gas on US-flagged vessels and requiring the Secretary to give priority processing of export applications for deepwater port terminals that would utilize US-flagged vessels.
Existing law authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to develop and implement a program to promote the transport of imported liquefied natural gas on US-flagged vessels. Under the Deepwater Ports Act, the Secretary is also required to give top priority to the processing of licenses for LNG import facilities that utilize US-flagged vessels.
“The export market for LNG, a strategic national asset, is ready to take off,” Garamendi said. “Our nation must take the bull by the horns. When it is deemed appropriate to export LNG, it should be on American-flagged vessels.”
Garamendi is the ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure’s Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee. The Subcommittee’s chair, Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), joined the legislation as an original cosponsor.
“This legislation will help strengthen this industry by promoting LNG export opportunities on US flag vessels,” Hunter said.
