Beto Sides With Russia Over Texas

Press Release

BETO SIDES WITH RUSSIA OVER TEXAS

"Anti-energy industry candidate Beto O'Rourke's opposition to increasing LNG exports not only costs Texas jobs, it also makes the world less secure by increasing reliance on Russia. Beto continues to display a complete lack of support for the Texas energy industry and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that depend on it." -- Mark Miner, Communications Director

O'Rourke Has Voted Against Efforts To Expand LNG Exports From The United States And To Increase Energy Exports To Russia's Neighbors:

In 2015 O'Rourke Voted Against H.R. 351, The LNG Permitting Certainty And Transparency Act. "On Wednesday, the House voted on and passed the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act (H.R. 351) by a 277--133 vote. I voted against H.R. 351." (Beto O'Rourke, "Voted "No' on H.R. 351," Medium.com, 1/30/15)

· H.R. 351 Would Significantly Speed Up The Permitting Process For LNG Exports From The United States, Which Experts Said Would Reduce Regulatory Impediments To LNG Exports. "Restrictive regulations and permitting processes that operate at glacial speed (as opposed to market speed) pose the primary hurdles to greater U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In response to a chorus of complaints from industry, Senators John A. Barrasso (R-WY) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently introduced the "LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act,' the 114th Congress's first legislation aimed at increasing U.S. exports of LNG. … Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) subsequently introduced H.R. 351, an identically named bill with virtually identical legislative language, in the House on January 14, 2015. … Despite the robust enforcement levers the Act proposes, it would not address a major obstacle to expanding U.S. LNG exports: the ponderous environmental review process for export projects, which can take between 18 and 30 months and cost $100 million for proposals to export LNG to countries with which the U.S. does not have free trade agreements (FTAs). However, it would force the DOE to make much faster decisions on whether to grant commercially advanced facilities permits allowing them to export gas to countries that do not have free trade agreements with the U.S., a cohort that includes Japan, Ukraine, and other large potential customers for U.S. LNG. … Bottom Line: The Act Is a Positive First Step Toward Reducing Regulatory Impediments to Greater U.S. LNG Exports." (Gabriel Collins, "The "LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act'-- A Positive Step Toward Expediting U.S. LNG Export Projects," JDSupra.com, 1/19/15)

· O'Rourke Opposed H.R. 351 Due To Environmental Concerns And Issues With Fracking. "I do not support H.R. 351 in its current form. If we are going to increase the amount of LNG we export, Congress should enhance safety and environmental protections. In addition, the long-term environmental impacts of fracking, including the effects on groundwater, need to be better understood prior to further increasing demand for natural gas from fracking." (Beto O'Rourke, "Voted "No' on H.R. 351," Medium.com, 1/30/15)

In 2014 O'Rourke Was One Of Ten Members Of Congress Who Voted Against A Resolution Condemning Russia's Policy Of Aggression Against Its Neighbors. "In December 2014, O'Rourke was one of 10 House members to vote against a symbolic resolution that called out Russian President Vladimir Putin for "carry[ing] out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.'" (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/22/19)

· The Resolution Called For "Energy Diversification Initiatives" For Russia's Neighbors Such As "Substituting Russian Energy Resources With Imports From Other Countries" Such As The U.S. "Whereas the Russian Federation is continuing to use its supply of energy as a means of political and economic coercion against Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other European countries; Whereas the United States strongly supports energy diversification initiatives in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and other European countries to reduce the ability of the Russian Federation to use its supply of energy for political and economic coercion, including the development of domestic sources of energy, increased efficiency, and substituting Russian energy resources with imports from other countries;… calls on Ukraine and other countries to support energy diversification initiatives to reduce the ability of the Russian Federation to use its energy exports as a means of applying political or economic pressure, including by promoting energy efficiency and reverse natural gas flows from Western Europe, and calls on the United States to promote increased natural gas exports and energy efficiency;…" (H.Res.758, U.S. House Of Representatives, Filed 11/18/14)

Increasing LNG Exports To Europe Is Viewed As A Key Strategic Tool To Combat Russian Influence:

"Russia Exports Roughly 23.3 Billion Cubic Feet Per Day (BCFD) Of Natural Gas, Of Which About 72% Goes To The Largest European Economies." (Scott Disavino, "Explainer: Could More LNG Supplies Get To Europe In The Event Of A Crisis?," Reuters, 1/25/22)

A Senior Economist At Commerzbank Warned That Should Putin Cut Off Natural Gas Supplies, "Some [European] Inventories Might Run Extremely Low." ""Current inventories are about 47% of full capacity,' Bernd Weidensteiner, senior economist at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, told DW back in late January. … If Putin were to cut off natural gas supplies during a military conflict or in retaliation for any future Western sanctions, Weidensteiner warned that "some [European] inventories might run extremely low.'" (Arthur Sullivan, "Could LNG Help Boost European Energy Security, If Russia Turns Off The Taps?," Deutsche Welle, 2/22/22)

Council On Foreign Relations: "The Threat Of A Large-Scale Russian Invasion Of Ukraine Has Put The United States And Its European Allies On High Alert In Part Due To The Potential For Major Disruptions To The European Energy Market…" "The threat of a large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has put the United States and its European allies on high alert in part due to the potential for major disruptions to the European energy market, which remains highly dependent on Russian oil and gas." (James McBride, "Russia's Energy Role In Europe: What's At Stake With The Ukraine Crisis," Council On Foreign Relations, 1/28/22)

France 24: "The Crisis Surrounding Ukraine Has Been A Harsh Reminder To Europeans Of Just How Dependent They Are On Russian Energy Supplies." (Sonya Ciesnik, "Nord Stream 2: Russia-Germany Gas Pipeline Becomes A Geopolitical Lever," France 24, 1/30/22)

Brookings Institute's Samantha Gross: "The Ability To Bring Replacement Gas Into Europe Lessens The Impact Of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Natural Gas Weapon." (Samantha Gross, "Now Is Not The Time To Limit U.S. Natural Gas Exports," Brookings Institute, 2/18/22)

Institute For Energy Economics And Financial Analysis's Clark Williams-Derry: "Russia Is Disturbing European Gas Markets, With The U.S. Talking About Exporting Basically The Next "Berlin Airlift' For Natural Gas To Europe." (Cathy Bussewitz, David Mchugh And Matthew Daly, "What Happens To Europe's Energy Supply If Russia Cuts Gas Exports? An Explainer," The Associated Press, 2/7/22)

FLASHBACK -- In Congress O'Rourke Was A Reliably Pro-Putin Vote:

The Daily Beast Headline: "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine" (Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

O'Rourke Opposed "Several Ukraine-Related Measures" Following Russia's 2014 Invasion Of Crimea, Including $1 Billion In Loan Guarantees "And Support For The Country's Defenses." "Following Russia's February 2014 incursion in Crimea, O'Rourke was one of just two Democrats to vote down several Ukraine-related measures, including a broad aid package--which included $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and support for the country's defenses--that passed overwhelmingly." (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

· The Legislation "Passed Overwhelmingly." "Following Russia's February 2014 incursion in Crimea, O'Rourke was one of just two Democrats to vote down several Ukraine-related measures, including a broad aid package--which included $1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine and support for the country's defenses--that passed overwhelmingly." (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

O'Rourke Voted Against A Resolution Calling Out Putin For "Carry[ing] Out A Policy Of Aggression Against Neighboring Countries Aimed At Political And Economic Domination." "In December 2014, O'Rourke was one of 10 House members to vote against a symbolic resolution that called out Russian President Vladimir Putin for "carry[ing] out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.'" (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

· O'Rourke "Was One Of 10 House Members To Vote Against" The Resolution. "In December 2014, O'Rourke was one of 10 House members to vote against a symbolic resolution that called out Russian President Vladimir Putin for "carry[ing] out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.'" (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

O'Rourke "Repeatedly Asked Pentagon Officials If They Were Thinking About How U.S. Assistance To Ukraine… Might Lead To Unintended Consequences" While Serving On The House Armed Services Committee. "From his perch in the House Armed Services Committee, O'Rourke also repeatedly asked Pentagon officials if they were thinking about how U.S. assistance to Ukraine--and U.S. arming of rebels fighting the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, a Putin ally--might lead to unintended consequences." (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

· O'Rourke's Questions Were "Considered Notable Enough To Draw The Attention Of Sputnik News, The Kremlin-Linked News Organization, Which Interviewed O'Rourke Afterward." "From his perch in the House Armed Services Committee, O'Rourke also repeatedly asked Pentagon officials if they were thinking about how U.S. assistance to Ukraine--and U.S. arming of rebels fighting the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, a Putin ally--might lead to unintended consequences. … These questions could easily be interpreted as a skeptical legislator simply doing due diligence about a significant foreign policy issue. But they were considered notable enough to draw the attention of Sputnik News, the Kremlin-linked news organization, which interviewed O'Rourke afterward." (Sam Brodey, "Beto O'Rourke Was Rare Vote Against Tough-On-Russia Bills After Invasion Of Ukraine," Daily Beast, 3/23/19)

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