April 27, 2021 3:40 a.m.

Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Senators Edward Markey. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, have introduced legislation to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act and reinstate the ban on exporting American crude oil and natural gas abroad.

A release said the Block All New Oil Export Act would help prioritize American consumers, protect the climate, promote environmental justice, and encourage the United States to establish self-sufficiency with energy production.

Merkley said “Oregonians watched in horror as last year’s catastrophic wildfire season claimed lives, destroyed homes and businesses and leveled entire communities”. Merkley said unless the nation tackles climate chaos and “…rein in the fossil fuel production that is driving the crisis in the first place -things are only going to get worse”.

Wyden said that right now the United States imports and exports millions of barrels of oil a day, “…perpetuating a merry-go-round of oil dependence”. Wyden said it is time for America to make the switch to clean energy, “…kicking our carbon habit to the curb”.

A release said the omnibus spending bill enacted into law in December 2015 lifted the 40-year ban that restricted exporting U.S. oil overseas. The release said the legislation is endorsed by over 100 organizations including the Sierra Club, Earthworks, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace USA