WASHINGTON, September 17, 2015 ─ The American Petroleum Institute welcomed bipartisan legislation approved today by the House Energy and Commerce Committee that will promote U.S. energy leadership by lifting a 70s-era ban on crude exports.       “There’s a growing bipartisan mandate in both the House and Senate to bring America’s vast resources to the global market and harness America’s potential as an energy superpower,” said Louis Finkel, API’s executive vice president for government affairs. “This legislation will reverse a decades-old policy and strengthen America’s edge against competitors like Iran. It makes no sense for the U.S. to restrict its own exports while the administration works to let Iran export its crude.”   By lifting the ‘70s-era ban on crude exports, studies show that the U.S. would create more American jobs, provide savings to consumers, and strengthen our allies against hostile nations, according to API. The administration’s own analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration confirms that exports of crude oil will drive economic gains for U.S. consumers and workers.   API thanked committee leaders for their bipartisan efforts and urged lawmakers to quickly bring their bills to the House and Senate floors for a vote.   API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 25 million Americans.