[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7197-H7199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ENERGY DIPLOMACY ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 5535) to amend the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956 regarding energy diplomacy and security within 
the Department of State, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5535

       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 ``Energy Diplomacy Act of 
     2018''.

     SEC. 2. ENERGY DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT 
                   OF STATE.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(3) Energy resources.--
       ``(A) Authorization for assistant secretary.--Subject to 
     the numerical limitation specified in paragraph (1), there is 
     authorized to be established in the Department of State an 
     Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources.
       ``(B) Personnel.--The Secretary of State shall ensure that 
     there are sufficient personnel dedicated to energy matters 
     within the Department of State who shall be responsible for--
       ``(i) formulating and implementing international policies, 
     in coordination with Secretary of Energy, as appropriate, 
     aimed at protecting and advancing United States energy 
     security interests by effectively managing United States 
     bilateral and multilateral relations in the fields of 
     petroleum, natural gas, biofuels, renewable energy, nuclear, 
     and other energy resources;
       ``(ii) ensuring that analyses of the national security 
     implications of global energy and environmental developments 
     are reflected in the decision making process within the 
     Department of State;
       ``(iii) incorporating energy security priorities into the 
     activities of the Department of State;
       ``(iv) coordinating energy activities within the Department 
     of State and with relevant Federal agencies;
       ``(v) working internationally to--

       ``(I) support the development of energy resources and the 
     distribution of such resources for the benefit of the United 
     States and United States allies and trading partners for 
     their energy security and economic development needs;
       ``(II) promote availability of diversified energy supplies 
     and a well-functioning global market for energy resources, 
     technologies, and expertise for the benefit of the United 
     States and United States allies and trading partners;
       ``(III) resolve international disputes regarding the 
     exploration, development, production, or distribution of 
     energy resources;
       ``(IV) support the economic and commercial interests of 
     United States persons operating in the energy markets of 
     foreign countries; and
       ``(V) support and coordinate international efforts to 
     alleviate energy poverty;

       ``(vi) leading the United States commitment to the 
     Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative;
       ``(vii) coordinating within the Department of State and 
     with relevant Federal departments and agencies on developing 
     and implementing international energy-related sanctions; and
       ``(viii) coordinating energy security and other relevant 
     functions within the Department of State currently undertaken 
     by--

       ``(I) the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs of the 
     Department of State;
       ``(II) the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
     and Scientific Affairs of the Department of State; and
       ``(III) other offices within the Department of State.''.

       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 931 of the Energy 
     Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17371) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b); and
       (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
     (a) and (b), respectively.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?

[[Page H7198]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as America's energy production has increased, and as 
Chairman Mike McCaul, the author of the measure, can tell you, our 
Nation's influence in global energy policy has grown.
  The U.S. is now the world's top producer of petroleum. It is also the 
top producer of natural gas for the fifth straight year. I will add to 
that: The United States has become more energy efficient.
  Our abundant supply of energy resources is not only good for our 
economy, it is also good for our national security. It offers American 
allies a critical alternative to countries like Russia, which use their 
energy resources to bully their neighbors, in the case of Vladimir 
Putin, and, in the case of the global oil cartel OPEC, enrich its 
member states at the expense of U.S. consumers.
  In this moment of heightened American energy leadership, it is 
critical that the State Department have the leadership and direction 
needed to fulfill its statutory responsibilities governing 
international energy diplomacy.
  This bill, the Energy Diplomacy Act, will elevate America's energy 
security and diplomacy priorities. It authorizes an Assistant Secretary 
for Energy Resources at the State Department. This Assistant Secretary 
will replace the Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, 
demonstrating the importance of energy issues to our foreign policy and 
our national interests.
  The Assistant Secretary will be responsible for developing and 
implementing policies to advance U.S. energy interests abroad by 
managing our relations in petroleum, in natural gas, in biofuels, in 
renewable energy, and in nuclear and other energy resources.
  This bill also requires the State Department to use diplomacy to 
support the development of U.S. energy resources to bolster our energy 
security, grow our economy, and support our allies.
  Mr. Speaker, for years, the world's leading petroleum producers have 
been rigging the world market by cutting production to drive up 
gasoline prices, and this hurts families in places like our home 
States. It is in our interests to promote the availability of 
diversified energy supplies in a functioning global market for energy 
resources, technologies, and expertise. That is exactly what this bill 
requires.
  Energy policy expertise must be more deeply integrated in our foreign 
policy. As a major energy producing nation, it is time we elevate this 
important issue within our diplomatic ranks, which is what this bill 
will do.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul for his work on this important 
measure with us today.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5535.
  I would like to thank Congressman McCaul, Chairman Royce, and Ranking 
Member Engel for their bipartisan work on this timely issue.
  As it has for decades, energy will continue to play a key role in 
shaping United States foreign policy. But the international landscape 
is changing, and so are the players.
  Global energy demand is set to rise 30 percent by the year 2030. This 
reflects an expanding global economy, rapid industrialization, 
population growth, urbanization, and improved energy access among 
developing countries.
  For the United States to maintain a leading role on the global stage, 
the State Department must be positioned to protect and promote 
favorable energy policies abroad. The Energy Diplomacy Act of 2018 
helps this effort by creating an Assistant Secretary of State for 
Energy Resources and requiring the State Department to employ 
sufficient personnel dedicated to international energy matters.
  By passing this legislation, we can prepare the State Department to 
engage in robust energy diplomacy and encourage strong international 
partnerships that promote our own political, economic, environmental, 
and national security concerns.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), who is the chairman of the Committee 
on Homeland Security and a senior member of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs. The gentleman is the author of this measure.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the 
Energy Diplomacy Act. Across the globe, our friends and allies want a 
stable and reliable supply of American energy. America, in turn, must 
actively engage our friends and allies to provide alternatives to 
energy from rogue regimes.
  Look what is happening in Europe. For over a decade, Russia has used 
their natural gas pipelines flowing into Eastern and Central Europe as 
a point of leverage over these countries. Ukraine has been most 
affected, with Russia turning off their natural gas supply in the 
winter of 2008 and during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. By twisting 
a knob and turning off Ukrainian heat, they were able to exert an 
outsized amount of influence on Ukraine.
  Now, Russia's proposed Nord Stream II pipeline with Germany further 
threatens to expand Russia's energy influence throughout Eastern and 
Central Europe.

  Make no mistake: Russia is a destabilizing regime that constantly 
exploits the vulnerabilities posed by Europe's reliance on their 
natural gas. The United States must be involved to curb this influence.
  Over the past decade, the United States has reduced our reliance on 
foreign sources of energy in order to achieve energy independence. As a 
result, we are now exporting energy abroad, including from my home 
State of Texas. In fact, in 2015, I helped champion the repeal of the 
outdated crude oil export ban. Now, U.S. producers are finding new 
customers in both Asia and Europe.
  That is why I authored the Energy Diplomacy Act. It elevates the 
Bureau of Energy Resources at the State Department. It replaces the 
International Energy Affairs Coordinator with an Assistant Secretary. 
This Assistant Secretary will carry out the State Department's 
functions on behalf of the United States.
  It also ensures the State Department is staffed with sufficient 
personnel to support this mission. This will empower the State 
Department to promote and advance a bold U.S. energy diplomacy policy.
  As energy-rich adversaries expand their malign influence and our 
allies continue to purchase from such states, the United States must 
project strong energy diplomacy now more than ever.
  It is not just Russia with whom we are contending. One of Iran's main 
goals in negotiating their nuclear deal was to open up their energy 
markets to more foreign investment and to expand their oil exports 
globally.
  Since the U.S. departed from the JCPOA, our European allies and our 
strategic partner India are deciding between complying with United 
States sanctions or ignoring them and buying Iranian oil.

                              {time}  1345

  We also need our diplomats on the front lines promoting reliable 
American energy.
  These two circumstances underscore the need for an Assistant 
Secretary for Energy Resources to project U.S. energy diplomacy 
throughout the world.
  I want to thank Chairman Royce for his leadership, as well as Ranking 
Member Engel, an original cosponsor of my bill.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has long recognized that global energy 
security and cooperation are necessary to advance our economic, foreign 
policy, and national security interests. We must work with our 
established friends and allies to seize the opportunities and address 
the challenges we face. We must also work with the emerging economies 
that account for an ever-increasing amount of energy consumption and 
production.
  H.R. 5535, the Energy Diplomacy Act, takes an important step toward 
ensuring that the State Department has the leadership and the capacity 
it needs to appropriately advance this critical aspect of U.S. foreign 
policy.

[[Page H7199]]

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of 
my time.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, 
Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Engel, and Mr. Sires, for crafting 
bipartisan legislation to ensure that the State Department has the 
leadership and the direction to support America's energy diplomacy 
priorities.
  Working with our allies and partners in the private sector, we can 
counter Putin's weaponization of his energy resources and provide our 
allies with a stable alternative to unreliable energy suppliers whose 
priorities are self-enrichment and geopolitical self-interest at the 
expense of a functioning market.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bipartisan bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5535, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________