[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1616 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1616
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United
States agencies to encourage countries in Europe and Eurasia to
diversify their energy sources and supply routes, increase energy
security in the region, and help the United States reach its global
energy security goals, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``European Energy Security and
Diversification Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Early-stage project support.--The term ``early-stage
project support'' includes the following:
(A) Feasibility studies.
(B) Resource evaluations.
(C) Project appraisal and costing.
(D) Pilot projects.
(E) Commercial support, such as trade missions,
reverse trade missions, technical workshops,
international buyer programs, and international partner
searchers to link suppliers to projects.
(F) Technical assistance and other guidance to
improve the local regulatory environment and market
frameworks to encourage transparent competition and
enhance energy security.
(G) Long-term energy sector planning.
(2) Late-stage project support.--The term ``late-stage
project support'' includes support described in section 1421 of
the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development
Act of 2018 (also referred to as the ``BUILD Act of 2018'';
enacted as division F of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
(Public Law 115-254)).
(3) International financial institution.--The term
``international financial institution'' has the meaning given
such term in section 1701(c) of the International Financial
Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)).
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States has economic and national security interests in assisting
European and Eurasian countries achieve energy security through
diversification of their energy sources and supply routes.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States
to--
(1) advance United States foreign policy and development
goals by assisting European and Eurasian countries to reduce
their dependence on energy resources from countries that use
energy dependence for undue political influence, such as the
Russian Federation, which has used natural gas to coerce,
intimidate, and influence other countries;
(2) promote the energy security of European and Eurasian
allies and partners of the United States by encouraging the
development of accessible, transparent, and competitive energy
markets that provide diversified sources, types, and routes of
energy;
(3) encourage United States public and private sector
investment in European and Eurasian energy infrastructure
projects to bridge the gap between energy security requirements
and commercial demand in a way that is consistent with the
region's absorptive capacity;
(4) help facilitate a well-functioning market for energy
resources in a way that benefits the energy security of the
United States and European and Eurasian allies and partners of
the United States; and
(5) help facilitate the export of United States energy
technology and expertise to global markets.
SEC. 4. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN EUROPE AND EURASIA.
(a) In General.--In pursuing the policy described in section 3(b),
the Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of United States
agencies that operate under the foreign policy guidance of the
Secretary, shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite the efforts
of the Department of State and such agencies in supporting the efforts
of the European Commission and European and Eurasian countries to
increase the energy security of such countries, including through--
(1) providing diplomatic and political support to the
European Commission and such countries, as necessary to--
(A) facilitate international negotiations
concerning cross-border infrastructure;
(B) enhance Europe's and Eurasia's regulatory
environment with respect to energy; and
(C) develop accessible, transparent, and
competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources,
types, and routes of energy; and
(2) providing support to improve European and Eurasian
energy markets, including early-stage project support and late-
stage project support for the construction or improvement of
energy infrastructure, as necessary, to--
(A) diversify the energy sources and supply routes
of such countries;
(B) enhance energy market integration across the
region; and
(C) increase competition within energy markets.
(b) Project Selection.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the heads of agencies described in subsection (a), shall
identify and, in accordance with paragraph (3), select energy
infrastructure projects that would be appropriate for United
States assistance under this section.
(2) Project eligibility.--A project is eligible for United
States assistance under this section if such project is--
(A) related to--
(i) natural gas infrastructure, such as
interconnectors, storage facilities, liquefied
natural gas import facilities, or reverse flow
capacity;
(ii) electricity transmission
infrastructure, electricity storage projects,
or smart grid projects;
(iii) renewable energy projects in wind,
solar, tidal, or other forms; or
(iv) the improvement, rehabilitation, or
construction of electricity generation
facilities to increase the efficiency and
reliability of electricity production; and
(B) located in a European or Eurasian country.
(3) Preference.--In selecting among projects that are
eligible under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State and the
heads of agencies described in subsection (a) shall give
preference to projects that--
(A) improve the capacity of energy systems to
efficiently transfer gas and electricity within and
between European or Eurasian countries;
(B) have already been identified by the European
Commission as being integral for the energy security of
European or Eurasian countries;
(C) are expected to enhance energy market
integration and transparency;
(D) can attract funding from the private sector, an
international financial institution, the government of
the country in which the project will be carried out,
or the European Commission; or
(E) have the potential to use United States goods
and services.
(c) Types of Assistance.--
(1) Diplomatic and political support.--The Secretary of
State, in coordination with the heads of agencies described in
subsection (a), as appropriate, shall provide diplomatic and
political support to the European Commission and European or
Eurasian countries, as necessary, including by using the
diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the
Department of State to build the capacity of such countries to
resolve any impediments to the development of projects selected
under subsection (b).
(2) Early-stage project support.--The Secretary of State,
in coordination, as appropriate, with the heads of agencies
described in subsection (a), including the Director of the
Trade and Development Agency, shall provide early-stage project
support to projects selected under subsection (b), as necessary
and in accordance with section 661 of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421).
(3) Late-stage project support.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination, as appropriate, with the heads of agencies
described in subsection (a), shall provide late-stage project
support to projects selected under subsection (b), as necessary
and in accordance with section 1412 of the Better Utilization
of Investments Leading to Development Act (relating to the
establishment of the United States International Development
Finance Corporation).
(d) Funding.--
(1) Trade and development agency.--Subparagraph (A) of
section 661(f)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2421(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``$48,000,000 for
fiscal year 2000'' and inserting ``$79,500,000 for fiscal year
2020''.
(2) Countering russian influence fund.--Section 254 of the
Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017
(enacted as title II of the Countering America's Adversaries
Through Sanctions Act; Public Law 115-44; 22 U.S.C. 9543) is
amended--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``fiscal years
2018 and 2019'' and adding ``fiscal years 2020 and
2021''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(7) To assist United States agencies that operate under
the foreign policy guidance of the Secretary of State in
providing assistance under section 4 of the European Energy
Security and Diversification Act of 2019.''.
(e) Exception.--No United States assistance under this section may
be provided to a European or Eurasian country that engages in a
significant transaction described in subsection (a) of section 231 of
the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C.
9525).
SEC. 5. PROGRESS REPORTS.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act
and annually thereafter for seven years, the President shall transmit
to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on progress
made in providing assistance for projects under section 4 that includes
the following:
(1) A description of the energy infrastructure projects the
United States has identified for such assistance.
(2) For each such project, the following:
(A) A description of the role of the United States
in the project, including in early-stage project
support and late-stage project support.
(B) The amount and form of any debt financing and
insurance provided by the United States Government for
the project.
(C) The amount and form of any early-stage project
support.
(D) An update on the progress made on the project
as of the date of the report.
Passed the House of Representatives March 25, 2019.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.
European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019
#1616 | HR Congress #116
Policy Area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alternative and renewable resourcesAsiaBusiness investment and capitalCollective securityCompetition and antitrustCongressional oversightDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEconomic performance and conditionsElectric power generation and transmissionEnergy storage, supplies, demandEnvironmental regulatory proceduresEuropeForeign aid and international reliefInternational organizations and cooperationMultilateral development programsOil and gasPublic-private cooperationRussiaSovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Last Action: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (3/26/2019)
Bill Text Source: Congress.gov
Summary and Impacts
Original Text