By Ernest Scheyder
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said on Monday she will introduce legislation this year to allow U.S. crude exports.
"It's time to lift America's ban on crude oil exports," Murkowski said at IHS CERAWeek conference in Houston, the world's largest annual gathering of oil executives.
"We shouldn't lift sanctions on Iranian oil while we are keeping restrictions on American oil. It just doesn't make sense," added Murkowski, who became chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in January.