IIB 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 702 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
OCTOBER 19, 2015 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs 
AN ACT 
To adapt to changing crude oil market conditions. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States has enjoyed a renais-
sance in energy production, establishing the United 
States as the world’s leading oil producer. 
(2) By authorizing crude oil exports, the Con-
gress can spur domestic energy production, create 
and preserve jobs, help maintain and strengthen our 
independent shipping fleet that is essential to na-
tional defense, and generate State and Federal reve-
nues. 
(3) An energy-secure United States that is a 
net exporter of energy has the potential to transform 
the security environment around the world, notably 
in Europe and the Middle East. 
(4) For our European allies and Israel, the 
presence of more United States oil in the market 
will offer more secure supply options, which will 
strengthen United States strategic alliances and help 
curtail the use of energy as a political weapon. 
(5) The 60-ship Maritime Security Fleet is a 
vital element of our military’s strategic sealift and 
global response capability. It assures United States- 
flag ships and United States crews will be available 
to support the United States military when it needs 
to mobilize to protect our allies, and is the most pru-
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dent and economical solution to meet current and 
projected sealift requirements for the United States. 
(6) The Maritime Security Fleet program pro-
vides a labor base of skilled American mariners who 
are available to crew the United States Government- 
owned strategic sealift fleet, as well as the United 
States commercial fleet, in both peace and war. 
(7) The United States has reduced its oil con-
sumption over the past decade, and increasing in-
vestment in clean energy technology and energy effi-
ciency will lower energy prices, reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions, and increase national security. 
SEC. 2. REPEAL. 
Section 103 of the Energy Policy and Conservation 
Act (42 U.S.C. 6212) and the item relating thereto in the 
table of contents of that Act are repealed. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL POLICY ON OIL EXPORT RESTRICTION. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to pro-
mote the efficient exploration, production, storage, supply, 
marketing, pricing, and regulation of energy resources, in-
cluding fossil fuels, no official of the Federal Government 
shall impose or enforce any restriction on the export of 
crude oil. 
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SEC. 4. STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 
(a) STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE.—Not later 
than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Energy shall conduct a study and trans-
mit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate recommendations on 
the appropriate size, composition, and purpose of the Stra-
tegic Petroleum Reserve. 
(b) GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.—Not later than 
120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Energy shall conduct, and transmit to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate the results of, a study on the net 
greenhouse gas emissions that will result from the repeal 
of the crude oil export ban under section 2. 
(c) STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE STUDY.—Not 
later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Energy shall conduct a study and 
transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate recommenda-
tions on the appropriate size, composition, and purpose 
of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 
(d) CRUDE OIL EXPORT STUDY.— 
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gress a report containing the results of the study 
conducted under paragraph (1). 
SEC. 5. SAVINGS CLAUSE. 
Nothing in this Act limits the authority of the Presi-
dent under the Constitution, the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Na-
tional Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), part B 
of title II of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 
U.S.C. 6271 et seq.), the Trading With the Enemy Act 
(50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq.), or any other provision of law 
that imposes sanctions on a foreign person or foreign gov-
ernment (including any provision of law that prohibits or 
restricts United States persons from engaging in a trans-
action with a sanctioned person or government), including 
a foreign government that is designated as a state sponsor 
of terrorism, to prohibit exports. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL DEFENSE SEALIFT ENHANCEMENT. 
(a) PAYMENTS.—Section 53106(a)(1) of title 46, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking the comma 
before ‘‘for each’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘2016, 
2017, and 2018;’’ and inserting ‘‘and 2016’’; 
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as sub-
paragraph (G); and 
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(4) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(D) $4,999,950 for fiscal year 2017; 
‘‘(E) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2018, 2019, and 2020; 
‘‘(F) $5,233,463 for fiscal year 2021; 
and’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
53111 of title 46, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘2016, 2017, 
and 2018;’’ and inserting ‘‘and 2016’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (7); and 
(3) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(4) $299,997,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
‘‘(5) $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2018, 2019, and 2020; 
‘‘(6) $314,007,780 for fiscal year 2021; and’’. 
SEC. 7. PARTNERSHIPS WITH MINORITY SERVING INSTITU-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Department of Energy shall 
continue to develop and broaden partnerships with minor-
ity serving institutions, including Hispanic Serving Insti-
tutions (HSI) and Historically Black Colleges and Univer-
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sities (HBCUs) in the areas of oil and gas exploration, 
production, midstream, and refining. 
(b) PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.—The Depart-
ment of Energy shall encourage public-private partner-
ships between the energy sector and minority serving insti-
tutions, including Hispanic Serving Institutions and His-
torically Black Colleges and Universities. 
SEC. 8. REPORT. 
Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary 
of Commerce shall jointly transmit to Congress a report 
that reviews the impact of lifting the oil export ban under 
this Act as it relates to promoting United States energy 
and national security. 
SEC. 9. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary 
of Commerce shall jointly transmit to Congress a report 
analyzing how lifting the ban on crude oil exports will help 
create opportunities for veterans and women in the United 
States, while promoting energy and national security. 
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SEC. 10. PROHIBITION ON EXPORTS OF CRUDE OIL, RE-
FINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, AND PETRO-
CHEMICAL PRODUCTS TO THE ISLAMIC RE-
PUBLIC OF IRAN. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize 
the export of crude oil, refined petroleum products, and 
petrochemical products by or through any entity or per-
son, wherever located, subject to the jurisdiction of the 
United States to any entity or person located in, subject 
to the jurisdiction of, or sponsored by the Islamic Republic 
of Iran. 
Passed the House of Representatives October 9, 
2015. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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