"The House Energy and Commerce Committee took a major step Thursday toward allowing crude oil exports from the United States.

Three Democrats joined all of the Republicans on Thurday in voting for a bill that would lift the decades-old ban on exports. The tally was 31-19.

The vote sends the legislation to the full House for final passage, something that Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said would happen in the coming weeks."

Timothy Cama reports for The Hill September 17, 2015. [2]