Congress considers banning natural gas exports to lower your energy bill
S. 3545 — Lowering American Energy Costs Act of 2025 · Filed by Ed Markey (D-MA) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Dec 17, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill would give the President power to ban exports of natural gas produced in the United States, with the stated goal of keeping domestic energy prices low. The President could exempt specific exports only if Congress approves them via joint resolution, and only if they serve the national interest without raising costs for residential consumers or are critical to U.S. national security or strategic alliances.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core mechanism is a presidential authority to restrict or ban natural gas exports to lower domestic energy costs. While framed as a consumer-protection measure, it functions as a form of price control and export regulation that directly constrains a major energy sector.
What the text implies
- A blanket export ban could reduce U.S. natural gas producer revenues and capital investment, potentially decreasing domestic production capacity and long-term supply, which may offset short-term price benefits.
- The bill grants the President broad discretionary power to restrict exports with minimal legislative guardrails—exemptions require Congressional approval, but the default rule is a ban, shifting the burden of proof to exporters.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
residential and commercial energy consumers (lower natural gas and electricity prices); industrial energy users (lower input costs); domestic natural gas producers (reduced competition from exports, potentially higher domestic prices