Stop Oil Exports to Lower Gas Prices Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8670

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Foreign Trade and International Finance

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-05-13T21:16:27Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 8670

Purpose

This bill aims to prohibit exports of crude oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel from the United States during a defined period of military operations against Iran, with the goal of managing domestic fuel supplies.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 101 of division O of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 6212a) to add a new subsection (f).
• Prohibits exports of crude oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel from the date of enactment until the President declares that military operations against Iran (which began in March 2026) have ended and certifies that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open with resumed global shipping.
• Allows a presidential waiver for crude oil exports if the President determines it cannot be efficiently refined in the United States; any such waiver requires a license and mandates that the oil be refined abroad and imported back into the United States.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Modifies prior rules on oil exports by adding a temporary, conflict-specific ban, overriding other provisions in the amended section except for the new waiver option.
• Ties export restrictions directly to presidential declarations and certifications regarding military actions and international shipping routes.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Requires the President to make formal declarations and certifications to Congress, potentially increasing oversight of energy exports during conflicts.
• On citizens: May affect domestic fuel availability and prices by limiting exports during the specified period.
• On international relations: Could influence U.S. energy trade policies and responses to disruptions in key shipping areas like the Strait of Hormuz.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. oil producers and exporters.
• Domestic refineries and fuel distributors.
• Consumers of gasoline and diesel.
• The executive branch, particularly the President.
• Congress, due to required certifications.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Expands congressional influence over energy exports tied to foreign military actions, potentially intersecting with executive authority in foreign affairs.
• Introduces conditional waivers that link domestic refining capacity to international trade requirements.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-07: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Stop Oil Exports to Lower Gas Prices Act — issued 2026-05-07 — PDF (3 pages)