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Prohibits exports or resales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum products to specified hostile countries and to entities owned or controlled by them, unless the Secretary of Energy grants a narrow waiver for an imminent and acute U.S. national security emergency. It applies to direct and indirect exports (including transfers through third parties) and places responsibility on export authorization holders to comply with this law and with existing sanctions and export rules. Creates a civil and criminal enforcement regime with large penalties: administrative civil fines (the greater of $250 million or twice the transaction value), civil judicial enforcement and injunctions, and criminal fines and prison terms (up to $100 million and/or 20 years) for knowing violations. The Secretary can issue implementing regulations and must share any waivers with specified congressional committees within 15 days of issuance.
The bill tightens export controls and enforcement to prevent U.S. energy from benefiting hostile states and reduce regulatory ambiguity, but it does so at the cost of large penalties, higher compliance burdens, potential market losses for exporters, and legal uncertainty for firms and executives.
All Americans are less likely to have U.S. LNG and petroleum supplies directly strengthen hostile governments (China, Russia, DPRK, Iran) because exports/resales to those countries are banned.
Stronger enforcement tools (large civil penalties and judicial remedies) increase deterrence and make it more likely unlawful exports are stopped and penalties collected, protecting public resources.
Clarifying key terms and compliance responsibilities (definition of 'petroleum product' and identifying the 'Secretary' plus alignment with OFAC/FERC rules) reduces regulatory ambiguity for exporters and DOE enforcement.
Businesses and individuals face extremely large criminal and civil penalties (criminal fines up to $100M and 20 years imprisonment; civil fines up to $250M or twice transaction value), creating severe financial and legal risk that could bankrupt small entities and chill legitimate activity.
Exporters and energy firms will face higher compliance and transaction costs (customer screening, contract restructuring, legal fees), costs likely passed to consumers and potentially raising energy prices.
The ban on sales/resales to certain countries could reduce market access and revenues for U.S. LNG and petroleum exporters, possibly slowing investment in export infrastructure and harming related jobs.
Introduced April 3, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress April 3, 2025