[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2023 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2023

   To require reports by the Secretary of State and the Director of 
  National Intelligence relating to construction of the Nord Stream 2 
                   pipeline, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2019

 Mr. Heck (for himself, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Barr, Mr. Carson of Indiana, 
  Mr. Chabot, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cook, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. 
Gallego, Mr. Harris, Mrs. Hartzler, Mr. Himes, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Huffman, 
  Mr. Hurd of Texas, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. 
Rodgers of Washington, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Olson, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Rooney 
    of Florida, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Weber of Texas) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
   and in addition to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 
 (Permanent Select), 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 require reports by the Secretary of State and the Director of 
  National Intelligence relating to construction of the Nord Stream 2 
                   pipeline, 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 ``Protect European Energy Security 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Russian Federation is constructing a gas pipeline 
        from Russia to Germany, named the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the 
        completion of which could address potential increases in 
        European energy consumption but also increase European 
        dependence on Russian energy and have destabilizing effects on 
        the Government of Ukraine if Ukraine loses energy transit fees 
        as a result of construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
            (2) According to experts, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would 
        transport 80 percent of Russia's current gas exports to Europe 
        through one single pipeline system, which would run counter to 
        the European Union energy policy of energy security and 
        diversification of supply.
            (3) Section 257(a) of the Countering America's Adversaries 
        through Sanctions Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-44; 22 U.S.C. 
        9546(a)) states in part that it is the policy of the United 
        States--
                    (A) ``to work with European Union member states and 
                European Union institutions to promote energy security 
                through developing diversified and liberalized energy 
                markets that provide diversified sources, suppliers, 
                and routes''; and
                    (B) ``to continue to oppose [the Nord Stream 2 
                pipeline] given its detrimental impacts on the European 
                Union's energy security, gas market development in 
                Central and Eastern Europe, and energy reforms in 
                Ukraine''.
            (4) On January 27, 2018, then-Secretary of State Rex 
        Tillerson stated, ``[T]he United States opposes the Nord Stream 
        2 pipeline. We see it as undermining Europe's overall energy 
        security and stability . . .''. Tillerson further stated that 
        the pipeline would allow Putin to use energy as a ``political 
        tool''.
            (5) On March 11, 2018, German chancellor Angela Merkel 
        acknowledged ``political'' and ``strategic'' concerns regarding 
        the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and stated that the pipeline ``is 
        not just an economic project, but that, of course, political 
        factors must also be taken into account''.
            (6) Gazprom, a Russian energy company, is controlled by the 
        Government of the Russian Federation, which, according to the 
        European Commission's Statement of Objections to Gazprom dated 
        April 22, 2015, has undertaken efforts to use gas as a weapon 
        of coercion.
            (7) The Department of State, led by the Bureau of Energy of 
        Resources, has worked extensively with allies, including 
        Denmark, to thwart such Russian efforts.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the United States should--
            (1) continue to oppose construction of the Nord Stream 2 
        pipeline and other Russian Federation gas pipelines in northern 
        Europe; and
            (2) take affirmative diplomatic steps to halt the 
        construction of such pipelines.

SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Report by Secretary of State.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit 
        to the appropriate congressional committees a report on actions 
        the Department of State is taking to implement section 257 of 
        the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act of 
        2017 (Public Law 115-44; 22 U.S.C. 9546).
            (2) Elements.--The report shall include details on the 
        following:
                    (A) Efforts by the Department of State since August 
                3, 2017, to work with European Union member states and 
                institutions to promote energy security and decrease 
                their dependence on Russian sources of energy, 
                including use of the Countering Russian Influence Fund 
                authorized pursuant to section 254 of the Countering 
                America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act of 2017 
                (Public Law 115-44; 22 U.S.C. 9543).
                    (B) Diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Department 
                of State to oppose directly the Nord Stream 2 pipeline 
                and the Turk Stream pipeline.
                    (C) An estimation of European natural gas supply 
                demand from 2019 through 2023.
    (b) Report by Director of National Intelligence.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of 
National Intelligence shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report on the impact of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline on--
            (1) United States interests and security objectives;
            (2) European energy security and defense posture;
            (3) Russian influence in Europe; and
            (4) Ukraine, including the implications of reductions in 
        transit fees as a result of Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
    (c) Form.--The reports required by this section shall be submitted 
in unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.
    (d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) in the House of Representatives--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services;
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs;
                    (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce; and
                    (D) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; 
                and
            (2) in the Senate--
                    (A) the Committee on Armed Services;
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations; and
                    (C) the Select Committee on Intelligence.
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