CRUDE Act

Continuing Robust and Uninhibited Drilling and Exporting Act or the CRUDE Act

This bill limits the President's authority to restrict the export of crude oil from the United States.

Currently, the President may restrict the export of oil for up to a year if

• the President declares a national emergency;
• the restrictions are sanctions or trade restrictions that apply to countries, persons, or organizations for national security reasons; or
• the Department of Commerce, in consultation with the Department of Energy (DOE), finds and reports to the President that the export of U.S. crude oil has caused sustained material oil supply shortages or sustained oil prices significantly above world market levels that have caused or are likely to cause sustained material adverse employment effects.

However, this bill only allows the President to impose such restrictions if

• the President declares a national emergency based on findings that are jointly issued by Department of Defense, DOE, and Commerce and include the conclusions described above about oil supply shortages or increased oil prices; or
• the restrictions are sanctions or trade restrictions that apply to countries, persons, or organization for national security reasons.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov