U.S. oil production group applauds legislation aimed at easing restrictions on crude oil exports. UPI/Gary C. Caskey Rep. Joe Barton , R-Texas, introduced a bill Tuesday that would remove all restrictions on the export of crude oil from the United States. Output from U.S. shale, he said, has placed the country as the top oil producer in the world and laws governing the market don’t reflect that position. “The most recent estimates show that the U.S. has more than enough resources to meet our domestic energy needs,” he said. “In order to take full advantage of this opportunity, we need to rethink outdated laws that were passed during an era of energy scarcity.” The U.S. Energy Information Administration, the statistical arm of the Energy Department, estimates total U.S. oil production at around 9 million barrels per day, a 13 percent increase from last year. George Baker, executive director of […]