Bill Summary
The Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe Act of 2019 is a bill introduced in the United States Congress with the intention of enhancing the security of the United States and its allies. This bill aims to reduce the dependency of allied countries on Russian energy resources, condemn and deter the use of energy resources as a geopolitical weapon by the Russian government, and improve energy security in Europe through increased access to diverse, reliable, and affordable energy sources. The bill also expresses opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and calls for the support of countries allied or partnered with the US by expediting the export of energy resources from the US. Additionally, the bill urges the President to use the influence of the US to encourage NATO member countries to work together to achieve energy security. It also requires the development of a transatlantic energy strategy to enhance energy security and increase exports of energy and related technologies and services from the US to NATO member countries and partners. Finally, the bill amends the Natural Gas Act to expedite the approval of natural gas exports to certain countries, including those with free trade agreements with the US, member countries of NATO, and other countries deemed to promote the national security interests of the US. These amendments are effective immediately upon the enactment of the bill.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially affect the energy security of European countries that are allies or partners of the United States, as it aims to reduce their dependency on Russian energy resources.
2. The bill could also impact the economy of Ukraine and other countries in Central Europe by opposing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and promoting diversification of energy sources and suppliers.
3. Individuals working in the energy industry may also be affected by this legislation, as it includes provisions for expediting the export of energy resources from the United States and potentially opening up new markets for energy technology and development services.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7751 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7751
To enhance the security of the United States and its allies, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 23, 2020
Mrs. Miller (for herself and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and
in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance the security of the United States and its allies, 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 ``Energy Security Cooperation with
Allied Partners in Europe Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to reduce the dependency of allies and partners of the
United States on Russian energy resources, especially natural
gas, in order for those countries to achieve lasting and
dependable energy security;
(2) to condemn the Government of the Russian Federation
for, and to deter that government from, using its energy
resources as a geopolitical weapon to coerce, intimidate, and
influence other countries;
(3) to improve energy security in Europe by increasing
access to diverse, reliable, and affordable energy;
(4) to promote energy security in Europe by working with
the European Union and other allies of the United States to
develop liberalized energy markets that provide diversified
energy sources, suppliers, and routes;
(5) to continue to strongly oppose the Nord Stream 2
pipeline based on its detrimental effects on the energy
security of the European Union and the economy of Ukraine and
other countries in Central Europe through which natural gas is
transported; and
(6) to support countries that are allies or partners of the
United States by expediting the export of energy resources from
the United States.
SEC. 3. NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION.
The President should direct the United States Permanent
Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(in this Act referred to as ``NATO'') to use the voice and influence of
the United States to encourage NATO member countries to work together
to achieve energy security for those countries and countries in Europe
and Eurasia that are partners of NATO.
SEC. 4. TRANSATLANTIC ENERGY STRATEGY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States and other NATO member countries should explore ways to ensure
that NATO member countries diversify their energy supplies and routes
in order to enhance their energy security, including through the
development of a transatlantic energy strategy.
(b) Transatlantic Energy Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development and the Secretary of Energy,
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
transatlantic energy strategy for the United States--
(A) to enhance the energy security of NATO member
countries and countries that are partners of NATO; and
(B) to increase exports of energy, energy
technologies, and energy development services from the
United States to such countries.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
SEC. 5. EXPEDITED APPROVAL OF EXPORTATION OF NATURAL GAS TO UNITED
STATES ALLIES.
(a) In General.--Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C.
717b(c)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``For purposes'';
(2) by striking ``nation with which there is in effect a
free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in
natural gas'' and inserting ``foreign country described in
paragraph (2)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) A foreign country described in this paragraph is--
``(A) a nation with which there is in effect a free
trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade
in natural gas;
``(B) a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization;
``(C) subject to paragraph (3), Japan; and
``(D) any other foreign country if the Secretary of
Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of State and
Secretary of Defense, determines that exportation of
natural gas to that foreign country would promote the
national security interests of the United States.
``(3) The exportation of natural gas to Japan shall be
deemed to be consistent with the public interest pursuant to
paragraph (1), and applications for such exportation shall be
granted without modification or delay under that paragraph,
during only such period as the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Security, signed at Washington January 19, 1960, and entered
into force June 23, 1960 (11 UST 1632; TIAS 4509), between the
United States and Japan, remains in effect.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to applications for the authorization to export
natural gas under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b)
that are pending on, or filed on or after, the date of the enactment of
this Act.
<all>