[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 147 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 147

  Encouraging improved cooperation with Russia on energy development 
                                issues.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2002

  Mr. Burns submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Encouraging improved cooperation with Russia on energy development 
                                issues.

Whereas Russia, with its vast oil and gas resources, a growing and diverse 
        number of private sector companies, and a renewed commitment to 
        investment by international energy companies, is in a unique position to 
        provide stability to an often volatile and insecure world energy market;
Whereas on June 6, 2002, Russia was granted market economy status by the United 
        States;
Whereas the granting of market economy status is mutually beneficial to both 
        Russia and the United States, and both governments should continue to 
        pursue other measures to promote long-term engagement and integration of 
        Russia into the world economy;
Whereas mutual efforts by Russia and the United States to bring greater 
        stability to world energy markets and to sustain economic growth in both 
        nations is a key way to ensure further engagement and integration of 
        Russia with the world economy;
Whereas, recognizing Russia's progress on religious freedom and human rights, 
        and its broad range of mechanisms to address remaining concerns, the 
        President has requested that Congress terminate application to Russia of 
        chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly referred to as 
        ``Jackson-Vanik'') and authorize the extension of normal trade relations 
        to Russia; and
Whereas both Russia and the United States can play a critical role in supporting 
        regional energy development and energy transportation corridor projects: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) encourages the Governments of Russia and the United 
        States--
                    (A) to engage in a dialogue on energy development; 
                and
                    (B) to consult widely with the governments of other 
                independent states of the former Soviet Union and with 
                other interested parties to promote exchanges on energy 
                development and to seek support from the broadest cross 
                section of business and civil societies;
            (2) is committed to terminating the application to Russia 
        of chapter 1 of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly 
        referred to as ``Jackson-Vanik'') and to authorizing the 
        extension of normal trade relations to Russia;
            (3) supports the actions of the Russian Duma designed to 
        strengthen international investment in the Russian energy 
        sector, such as--
                    (A) actions to permit the full implementation of 
                energy projects on Sakhalin Island and in the Timan-
                Pechora region, all of which offer unique opportunities 
                to increase the petroleum supplies of the United States 
                and the world; and
                    (B) actions to encourage a regulatory and 
                investment framework in Russia to expand Russia's oil 
                and gas export capacities;
            (4) supports the accession of Russia to the World Trade 
        Organization; and
            (5) supports continued high level and sustained exchanges 
        on energy development between the Governments of Russia and the 
        United States and between businesses in the two countries.
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