US Shippers Seek Role In Transport Of LNG, Oil Exports

At the subcommittee hearing, Garamendi stressed that countries set to purchase U.S. LNG, such as India, have requirements that a certain number of the ships used to transport the LNG must come from their domestic fleet.

He said the United States should enter into agreements with these countries that would mandate that some of the ships transporting LNG would also be from the United States.

No action is expected on the LNG shipping bill this year, Hunter told Reuters after the hearing. He said he hopes to continue to push for passage of the bill next year, but the industry needs to work to make these issues more prominent.

At the start of the hearing, Hunter noted the low attendance by lawmakers at the meeting compared with hearings on aviation or trucking.

"We have to build support," Hunter said. "I think the industry has to do a better job of talking to Congress."

The hearing also touched on the nearly century old Jones Act, which requires that ships moving between U.S. ports are U.S.-built, U.S.- flagged and U.S.-crewed.

Garamendi urged the groups at the hearing to inform the committee of any waivers to the Jones Act that may be unwarranted so that lawmakers can take action to attempt to overturn them.

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

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