[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3073. Mr. KING (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Franken) 
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2953 
proposed by Ms. Murkowski to the bill S. 2012, to provide for the 
modernization of the energy policy of the United States, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle C of title II, add the following:

     SEC. 22___. LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF ENERGY TO 
                   APPROVE CERTAIN LNG TERMINAL PROPOSALS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3(e) of the Natural Gas Act (15 
     U.S.C. 717b(e)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(5) Authority of secretary of energy over certain 
     proposals.--
       ``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
       ``(i) Additional export proposal.--The term `additional 
     export proposal' means any proposal submitted to the 
     Secretary by a new or existing LNG terminal--

       ``(I) to initiate the export of natural gas to a foreign 
     country, with respect to a LNG terminal that does not so 
     export natural gas as of the date of submission of the 
     proposal; or
       ``(II) to increase the quantity of natural gas exported to 
     a foreign country by the LNG terminal, with respect to a LNG 
     terminal that exports natural gas as of the date of 
     submission of the proposal.

       ``(ii) Foreign country.--The term `foreign country' means a 
     nation in which there is not in effect a free trade agreement 
     requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas.
       ``(iii) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 
     Secretary of Energy, acting pursuant to sections 301(b) and 
     402(f) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
     U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)).
       ``(B) Limitation.--
       ``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding part 590 of title 10, 
     Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), or 
     any other provision of law (including regulations), the 
     Secretary may not take into consideration or approve any 
     additional export proposal if approving the additional export 
     proposal would raise the total quantity of natural gas 
     cumulatively approved for export to foreign countries from 
     United States facilities above a level included in a study 
     conducted under clause (ii).
       ``(ii) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct an economic 
     impact study that includes an analysis of the impact of 
     exporting natural gas on--

       ``(I) domestic natural gas prices;
       ``(II) regional domestic natural gas prices;
       ``(III) natural gas prices for domestic consumers, 
     manufacturers, and other industries; and
       ``(IV) the global economic competitiveness of domestic 
     manufacturers and other domestic industries.''.

       (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall not apply to any export proposal that received final 
     approval from the Secretary before or on the date of 
     enactment of this Act.
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