WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today issued the following statement on the Department of Energy’s approval of a license to Freeport LNG to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to nations that aren’t party to U.S. free-trade agreements:

“This decision is a victory for those who believe free trade is good for the American economy. It’s my hope that Freeport is the first of many projects that will be approved in the coming weeks and months, not years. The shale gas revolution offers great economic and geopolitical benefits and we can’t afford to let special interest groups derail us from capitalizing on these opportunities.

“The vast majority of independent analyses conducted over the past year have found that exports overwhelmingly benefit the economy. Countries like Japan and India are asking us to enter the global market and it’s time we did so. DOE’s review process was deliberative, impartial and thorough, but it’s also crucial that our trading partners have confidence that export authorizations, once granted, will not be revoked.”

Murkowski is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.