[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 49 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S3804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 456--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE ON THE 
 DISCUSSION BY THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL OF SECURE, SUSTAINABLE, AND 
                       RELIABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY

  Mr. LUGAR submitted the following resolution, which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 456

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the President should place on the agenda for discussion 
     at the North Atlantic Council, as soon as practicable, the 
     merits of establishing a policy and strategy for the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization to promote the security of 
     members of the Organization through the development of 
     secure, sustainable, and reliable sources of energy; and
       (2) the President should submit to Congress a report that 
     sets forth--
       (A) the actions the United States has taken to place the 
     matter referred to in paragraph (1) on the agenda for 
     discussion at the North Atlantic Council;
       (B) the position of the United States on the matter, as 
     communicated to the North Atlantic Council by the 
     representatives of the United States to the Council;
       (C) a summary of the debate on the matter at the North 
     Atlantic Council, including any decision that has been 
     reached with respect to the matter by the Council; and
       (D) a strategy for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     to develop secure, sustainable, and reliable sources of 
     energy, including contingency plans if current energy 
     resources are put at risk.

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution that 
calls upon the United States to lead the discussion at NATO 
headquarters of the role the alliance could play in energy security. It 
further calls upon the President to submit to Congress a report that 
details ``a strategy for NATO to develop secure, sustainable, and 
reliable sources of energy, including contingency plans if current 
energy resources are put at risk.''
  NATO is now facing new challenges and new priorities. To be fully 
relevant to the security and well-being of the people of its member 
nations, NATO must think and act globally.
  International developments are calling attention to the growing 
importance of energy security for NATO member countries and other 
nonmember partners. Dependence on imports of oil and natural gas from 
limited numbers of countries with state-controlled reserves makes NATO 
member countries vulnerable to political manipulation of supply. On a 
global scale, increased competition for finite supplies of oil and gas 
could lead to conflict that would directly involve NATO member states. 
This is why the resolution urges that the United States energy security 
message to NATO members include attention toward sustainable fuels and 
preparedness for supply disruption.
  As the alliance focuses on a clearer definition of its purpose in the 
21st century, I believe that it is important to show congressional 
support for NATO playing a role in energy security.

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