The U.S. House passed two packages of energy and jobs bills: H.R. 2, the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act; and H.R. 4, the Jobs for America Act.

H.R. 2 contains 13 bills that the House previously passed and which deal with energy development and regulation. The suite of bills includes measures to: allow for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline; streamline the process for approving drilling permits; limit the EPA's ability to regulate emissions from fossil-fueled power plants under the Clean Air Act; allow states to continue regulating hydraulic fracturing without federal interference; and set deadlines for federal agencies to act when considering certification or permits for the construction or expansion of natural gas pipelines.

Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)This bill also requires the Department of Energy to expedite decisions on applications to export liquefied natural gas, which is particularly important to the President of Ukraine who addressed a joint session of Congress on Thursday. Ukraine, and much of the rest of Europe, is currently at the mercy of Russia for their supply of natural gas, but American exports of liquefied natural gas would fortify Ukraine’s independence from Russia’s sphere of influence.

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