[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 51 (Monday, March 25, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2771-H2773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        EUROPEAN ENERGY SECURITY AND DIVERSIFICATION ACT OF 2019

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1616) 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1616

       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) Early-stage project support.--The term ``early-stage 
     project support'' includes the following:
       (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.
       (G) Long-term energy sector planning.
       (2) Late-stage project support.--The term ``late-stage 
     project support'' includes support described in section 1421 
     of the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to 
     Development Act of 2018 (also referred to as the ``BUILD Act 
     of 2018''; enacted as division F of the FAA Reauthorization 
     Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254)).
       (3) International financial institution.--The term 
     ``international financial institution'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 1701(c) of the International Financial 
     Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)).

     SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; 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 European and Eurasian 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 to--
       (1) advance United States foreign policy and development 
     goals by assisting European and Eurasian 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) promote the energy security of European and Eurasian 
     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) encourage United States public and private sector 
     investment in European and Eurasian 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;
       (4) help facilitate a well-functioning market for energy 
     resources in a way that benefits the energy security of the 
     United States and European and Eurasian allies and partners 
     of the United States; and
       (5) help facilitate the export of United States energy 
     technology and expertise to global markets.

     SEC. 4. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR ENERGY 
                   INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN EUROPE AND EURASIA.

       (a) In General.--In pursuing the policy described in 
     section 3(b), the Secretary of State, in coordination with 
     the heads of United States agencies that operate under the 
     foreign policy guidance of the Secretary, shall, as 
     appropriate, prioritize and expedite the efforts of the 
     Department of State and such agencies in supporting the 
     efforts of the European Commission and European and Eurasian 
     countries to increase the energy security of such countries, 
     including through--
       (1) providing diplomatic and political support to the 
     European Commission and such countries, as necessary to--
       (A) facilitate international negotiations concerning cross-
     border infrastructure;
       (B) enhance Europe's and Eurasia's regulatory environment 
     with respect to energy; and
       (C) develop accessible, transparent, and competitive energy 
     markets supplied by diverse sources, types, and routes of 
     energy; and
       (2) providing support to improve European and Eurasian 
     energy markets, including early-stage project support and 
     late-stage project support for the construction or 
     improvement of energy infrastructure, as necessary, to--
       (A) diversify the energy sources and supply routes of such 
     countries;
       (B) enhance energy market integration across the region; 
     and
       (C) increase competition within energy markets.
       (b) Project Selection.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with the heads of agencies described in subsection (a), shall 
     identify and, in accordance with paragraph (3), select 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 such 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 
     electricity generation facilities to increase the efficiency 
     and reliability of electricity production; and
       (B) located in a European or Eurasian country.
       (3) Preference.--In selecting among projects that are 
     eligible under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State and the 
     heads of agencies described in subsection (a) shall give 
     preference to projects that--
       (A) improve the capacity of energy systems to efficiently 
     transfer gas and electricity within and between European or 
     Eurasian countries;
       (B) have already been identified by the European Commission 
     as being integral for the energy security of European or 
     Eurasian countries;
       (C) are expected to enhance energy market integration and 
     transparency;
       (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.
       (c) Types of Assistance.--
       (1) Diplomatic and political support.--The Secretary of 
     State, in coordination with the heads of agencies described 
     in subsection (a), as appropriate, shall provide diplomatic 
     and political support to the European Commission and European 
     or Eurasian countries, as necessary, including by using the 
     diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the 
     Department of State to build the capacity of such countries 
     to resolve any impediments to the development of projects 
     selected under subsection (b).
       (2) Early-stage project support.--The Secretary of State, 
     in coordination, as appropriate, with the heads of agencies 
     described in subsection (a), including the Director of the 
     Trade and Development Agency, shall provide early-stage 
     project support to projects selected under subsection (b), as 
     necessary and in accordance with section 661 of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421).
       (3) Late-stage project support.--The Secretary of State, in 
     coordination, as appropriate, with the heads of agencies 
     described in subsection (a), shall provide late-stage project 
     support to projects selected under subsection (b), as 
     necessary and in accordance with section 1412 of the Better 
     Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act 
     (relating to the establishment of the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation).
       (d) Funding.--
       (1) Trade and development agency.--Subparagraph (A) of 
     section 661(f)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2421(f)(1)) is amended by striking ``$48,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2000'' and inserting ``$79,500,000 for fiscal 
     year 2020''.
       (2) Countering russian influence fund.--Section 254 of the 
     Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 
     2017 (enacted as title II of the Countering America's 
     Adversaries Through Sanctions Act; Public Law 115-44; 22 
     U.S.C. 9543) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``fiscal years 2018 and 
     2019'' and adding ``fiscal years 2020 and 2021''; and
       (B) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(7) To assist United States agencies that operate under 
     the foreign policy guidance of the Secretary of State in 
     providing assistance under section 4 of the European Energy 
     Security and Diversification Act of 2019.''.
       (e) Exception.--No United States assistance under this 
     section may be provided to a European or Eurasian country 
     that engages

[[Page H2772]]

     in a significant transaction described in subsection (a) of 
     section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through 
     Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525).

     SEC. 5. PROGRESS REPORTS.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and annually thereafter for seven years, the 
     President shall transmit 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 the following:
       (1) A description of the energy infrastructure projects the 
     United States has identified for such assistance.
       (2) For each such project, the following:
       (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.
       (D) An update on the progress made on the project as of the 
     date of the report.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1616, the European Energy Security 
and Diversification Act of 2019, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the European Energy Security and 
Diversification Act of 2019.
  I would like to thank my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. Keating, for introducing this bipartisan 
legislation.
  When we look at the full scope of Vladimir Putin's nefarious behavior 
throughout the world, we see it take many shapes: insidious attempts to 
influence democratic elections, incursions into the sovereign territory 
of other nations, and military exercises designed to intimidate its 
neighbors.
  But this legislation addresses yet another tool in Putin's arsenal: 
the manipulation of natural resources.
  More and more, we see Russia using energy as a weapon to blackmail 
countries depending on Russian energy sources. The European Union and 
many of our allies and partners in Europe recognize this threat and 
have begun to take steps to reduce their vulnerability to Russian 
pressure.
  This bill will ramp up American support for Europe's energy security 
and reduce dependence on Russia, including financial support for 
projects that better connect European energy networks and improve 
energy efficiency.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the European Energy Security 
and Diversification Act, which the Foreign Affairs Committee adopted 
unanimously earlier this month.
  This bill, sponsored by Mr. Keating and Mr. Kinzinger, for whom we 
are deeply thankful, will help European and Eurasian countries reduce 
their reliance on Russian energy by providing diplomatic, political, 
technical, and financial support to projects that diversify energy 
sources and supply routes, enhance energy market integration across the 
region, and increase competition within the energy markets.
  Europe imports nearly 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia. Some 
EU countries source as much as 100 percent of their gas from Moscow, 
which has weaponized its energy dominance in the region to coerce, 
intimidate, and influence the political decisions of countries that 
depend on it for their energy.
  In 2006, 2009, and 2014, Vladimir Putin cut off gas to Ukraine, a 
country he has tried to dismember through his illegal annexation of 
Crimea and his continued aggression in the East.
  Putin is now trying to build a massive new pipeline to Germany, the 
Nord Stream 2. This pipeline will increase Russian influence over 
Berlin, a key NATO ally and the largest economy in the EU, and also 
reduce Russia's reliance on Ukraine as a vital pipeline transit route 
to other European markets. This will deprive Ukraine of its critical 
transit fees, the proceeds of which are roughly equal to what it spends 
on its military.
  It is not hard to see that this is a strategic play by Putin to 
increase pressure on Ukraine, where he continues to wage a war, and 
also get closer to Germany and dominate their energy.
  This bill isn't just about helping Europe. This bill advances U.S. 
foreign policy and economic interests by strengthening our alliances 
with countries in the region and promoting U.S. energy as an 
appropriate alternative to the bondage of Russia.
  The shale revolution and the repeal of the 1970s-era ban on crude oil 
sales in 2015 have unlocked America's abundant oil and natural gas 
reserves. These have enabled us to become the world's largest producer 
of oil and gas--some 13 million barrels a day now--giving our partners 
and allies a reliable alternative to unstable sources of energy.
  We also lead the world in cutting-edge clean energy technologies, one 
of which, carbon sequester, is very important for the environment as 
well. Others are like nuclear and renewables, which this bill promotes.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Keating).
  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Sires), the chair of the subcommittee dealing with the very important 
issue that we are dealing with now in the Western Hemisphere and 
Venezuela, and I associate myself with his remarks in that regard.
  I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney), who has been a 
strong advocate of energy diversification and renewable energy on the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, for his support.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1616, which is a bill I 
introduced with the ranking member, Representative Kinzinger, as well 
as a bill I sponsored towards the last days of the last Congress with 
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, showing bipartisan and bicameral 
support for this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, we saw again last weekend with the summary of the 
Mueller report coming forward just underscoring, once again, the attack 
that was made on our country by Russia. There is no mistaking it now. 
There was little mistake, given our intelligence sources at the time.
  This is not only a way that Russia is seeking, number one, to attack 
the democracies of our country, but also to strategically create a 
wedge with the greatest asset we have, something that they certainly do 
not have.

                              {time}  1715

  That asset is the coalition we have with our European allies. It is 
one of our greatest strengths, and it is unique to this historic 
coalition.
  One of the ways Russia is continuing to break up this Western 
coalition and cause great damage, is not just the attacks like they had 
in the U.S. over their election and democracy, but also wielding energy 
as a weapon to break up this great coalition we have, hurt democracies 
in Europe--particularly Eastern Europe and here--undercutting our 
interest in sharing the values that we have with our greatest allies.
  This is something in terms of the energy resources we can't take for 
granted. We know that this is a time when the U.S. is a great exporter 
of energy in this world, and it is something that will benefit our 
economy going forward but will also benefit the diversification of 
energy in Europe as well, something that will advance their economy, 
but something also that will give them great protection against this 
Russian threat.
  We also know that it is not just the exporting of this energy that is 
going to be of value, but this bill also targets renewable energy 
development as well, and that is something that brings the European 
countries together with the U.S., and also, together, sets us at a 
greater stage to compete worldwide.
  We can work together exchanging technological advances. We can work 
together as we share investments in

[[Page H2773]]

each other's countries. This is something that will both help the U.S. 
economy as a major exporter, but also help our growth going forward. 
So, we need to work more closely. Specifically, this bill authorizes 
financing for private-sector investments both in energy security 
projects in the United States and likewise in the trade that will ensue 
in renewables.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the committee for taking such early 
action in this Congress. I think it states the priority nature of this, 
knowing that this is going to be something that enhances European 
security, our security, enhances our economy and theirs, and seeks to 
protect us. Because as they talk about projects like Nord Stream 2 in 
Germany, they are using right now that leverage to create a threat and 
to isolate countries like Ukraine from their basic energy economic 
development.
  This is important in so many respects. I urge my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle, showing the leadership of this bipartisan bill, to 
move it forward quickly.
  I also want to recognize, again, Senator Murphy who has been such a 
leader of this on the Senate side. It is rare that we have such strong 
bipartisan support for a bill, as well as bicameral support. Let's go 
ahead and move this forward today.
  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would once again like to thank the authors of this 
important bill, Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. Keating, as well as Chairman 
Sires for his support, and I am glad to know that Senator Murphy is on 
the case as well.
  One more time, I would just like to say, if I might, what a terrible 
idea the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is, and I appreciate the strong 
comments that Congressman Keating just made. We should be opposing 
that, and we should be supporting the Trans-Caucasus pipeline to get 
more oil into Eastern Europe, away from Russia, and out of the bondage 
of their control of the pipelines.
  So, I would like to thank the authors one more time and encourage all 
our colleagues to support this important bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I 
want to thank, again, Mr. Kinzinger and Mr. Keating for their work on 
this bill to bolster our allies in the face of Russian pressure.
  This is a good measure that addresses Russia's use of energy to 
exploit and blackmail countries around the world, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1616, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________