[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 704 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 704
To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United
States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to
diversify their energy sources and supply routes, increase Europe's
energy security, and help the United States reach its global energy
security goals, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 7, 2019
Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rubio, Mrs.
Shaheen, and Mr. Gardner) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United
States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to
diversify their energy sources and supply routes, increase Europe's
energy security, 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) Central or eastern european country.--The term
``Central or Eastern European country'' includes--
(A) Albania;
(B) Bosnia and Herzegovina;
(C) Bulgaria;
(D) Croatia;
(E) Cyprus;
(F) the Czech Republic;
(G) Estonia;
(H) Greece;
(I) Hungary;
(J) Kosovo;
(K) Latvia;
(L) Lithuania;
(M) Macedonia;
(N) Moldova;
(O) Montenegro;
(P) Poland;
(Q) Romania;
(R) Serbia;
(S) Slovakia;
(T) Slovenia; and
(U) Ukraine.
(2) Early-stage project support.--The term ``early-stage
project support'' includes--
(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; and
(G) long-term energy sector planning.
(3) Late-stage project support.--The term ``late-stage
project support'' includes debt financing, insurance, and
transaction advisory services.
SEC. 3. 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
Central and Eastern European 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--
(1) to advance United States foreign policy and development
goals by assisting Central and Eastern European 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) to promote the energy security of 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) to encourage United States public and private sector
investment in European 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; and
(4) to help facilitate the export of United States energy
resources, technology, and expertise to global markets in a way
that benefits the energy security of allies and partners of the
United States, including in Central and Eastern Europe.
SEC. 4. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE.
(a) In General.--In pursuing the policy described in section 3, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of United States
agencies that operate under the policy guidance of the Secretary,
shall, as appropriate, prioritize and expedite the efforts of the
Department of State and those agencies in supporting the efforts of the
European Commission and the governments of Central and Eastern European
countries to increase their energy security, including through--
(1) providing diplomatic and political support to the
European Commission and those governments, as necessary--
(A) to facilitate international negotiations
concerning cross-border infrastructure;
(B) to enhance Europe's regulatory environment with
respect to energy; and
(C) to develop accessible, transparent, and
competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources,
types, and routes of energy; and
(2) providing support to improve European energy markets,
including early-stage project support and late-stage project
support for the construction or improvement of energy
infrastructure, as necessary--
(A) to diversify the energy sources and supply
routes of Central and Eastern European countries;
(B) to enhance energy market integration across the
region; and
(C) to increase competition within energy markets.
(b) Project Selection.--
(1) In general.--The agencies described in subsection (a)
shall identify 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 the 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 natural gas, coal, or other
electricity generation facilities to increase
the efficiency and reliability of electricity
production; and
(B) located in a Central or Eastern European
country.
(3) Preference.--In selecting among projects that are
eligible under paragraph (2), the agencies described in
subsection (a) shall give preference to projects that--
(A) link the energy systems of two or more Central
and Eastern European countries;
(B) have already been identified by the European
Commission as being integral for the energy security of
Central and Eastern European countries;
(C) are expected to enhance energy market
integration;
(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 during project implementation.
(c) Types of Assistance.--
(1) Diplomatic and political support.--The Secretary of
State shall provide diplomatic and political support to the
European Commission and the governments of Central and Eastern
European countries, as necessary, including by using the
diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the
Department of State to build the capacity of those countries to
resolve any impediments to the development of projects selected
under subsection (b).
(2) Early-stage project support.--The Director of the Trade
and Development Agency shall provide early-stage project
support with respect to projects selected under subsection (b),
as necessary.
(3) Late-stage project support.--Agencies described in
subsection (a) that provide late-stage project support shall do
so with respect to projects selected under subsection (b), as
necessary.
(d) Funding.--
(1) Private sector investment.--The agencies described in
subsection (a)--
(A) are authorized to provide financing of not more
than $1,000,000,000 to support private sector
investment in projects that diversify the energy
sources and energy transport capabilities of Central
and Eastern European countries and to improve energy
market integration in those countries; and
(B) shall ensure that amounts from such investments
are available for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for
debt financing and insurance for projects under this
section.
(2) Authorization of appropriations for trade and
development agency.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Director of the Trade and Development Agency for each of
fiscal years 2020 through 2024--
(A) $5,000,000 to provide assistance under this
section; and
(B) such sums as may be necessary for the Agency to
employ additional personnel to provide such assistance.
(3) Countering russian influence fund.--Section 254(b) of
the Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of
2017 (22 U.S.C. 9543(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(7) To assist United States agencies in providing
assistance under section 4 of the European Energy Security and
Diversification Act of 2019.''.
SEC. 5. PROGRESS REPORTS.
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall submit 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--
(1) a description of the energy infrastructure projects the
United States has identified for such assistance; and
(2) for each such project--
(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; and
(D) an update on the progress made on the project
as of the date of the report.
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