On Thursday, July 30, 2015 Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) spoke at the launch the Global Energy Center’s task force report, “Empowering America: How Energy Abundance Can Strengthen US Global Leadership.” The Senators, who were co-chairs of the task force, discussed the report’s recommendations, which include calling on US policymakers to repeal the ban on exporting US crude oil, easing the licensing process for LNG exports, and investing in research and development of alternative technologies. David L. Goldwyn, Chairman of the Atlantic Council’s Energy Advisory Group moderated the discussion and Richard L. Morningstar, Founding Director of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center provided welcome remarks.