Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) will introduce legislation that lifts a decades-old ban on crude oil exports on Tuesday.

Barton, who has been planning the bill since earlier this year, is a strong advocate in favor of repealing the ban first imposed during the Arab oil embargoes of the 1970s.

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Barton’s legislation will be introduced sometime Tuesday, according to his spokesman. It comes out ahead of a House hearing on Thursday that will focus on the export ban.

While the bill won’t see any action before the end of the year talk of lifting the ban is expected to pick up pace next year.

Passage of Barton’s legislation in the House isn’t expected right away however, as number of lawmakers still oppose lifting the ban.

Support for more crude oil exports in the Republican conference is growing but a number of Republicans and majority of Democrats are hesitant over the impact more oil exports could have on consumers.

Opponents argue a repeal would lift gas prices and hurt refiners. Advocates of lifting the 40-year old ban argue the recent plummet in oil price makes it the perfect time to get rid of it.