Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), alongside a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of lawmakers, has filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to rehear the City of Port Isabel v. FERC case, which could impact Texas’ energy industry.
This legal action comes in response to the D.C. Circuit’s August decision to vacate permits for the Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG projects, jeopardizing 7,000 jobs and $24 billion in investments in the Rio Grande Valley.
READ: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Lawmakers Urge Court To Rehear Case Nixing Permits For Major Energy Projects
“I’m proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort. My number one priority in the U.S. Senate is jobs. There are 7,000 jobs and billions in investment in the Rio Grande Valley at stake,” said Cruz. “This decision and the current environmental process threaten the economic and energy security of Texas and America, and would cede America’s energy dominance to adversaries and rivals such as Russia, which advance their own interests through gas exports. The D.C. Circuit should rehear and reverse this erroneous decision.”
“Texas has the resources to supply the world with clean, affordable LNG. Unprecedented decisions that inject massive uncertainty into future investments aren’t just short-sighted—they’re morally indefensible. We cannot afford to hand the global energy market to adversaries like Russia, who produce dirtier, high-emission fuels,” said Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw.
READ: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Snaps At Moderator For Persisting On Abortion Question
Background on the Case and Legislative Action
The D.C. Circuit’s decision to vacate the permits has created uncertainty for Texas LNG projects and led to a broader push to protect the state’s energy infrastructure. In addition to the amicus brief, Cruz has called on the Biden-Harris administration to appeal the ruling and introduced the Protect LNG Act with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
This legislation would ensure that LNG permits cannot be vacated once issued, establish clear venues for LNG-related lawsuits, and mandate expedited rulings in federal courts.
The brief underscores the bipartisan support for preserving Texas’ energy independence and protecting high-paying jobs in the Rio Grande Valley, while aiming to counteract foreign energy competition from nations like Russia.
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