[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2801-S2802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1554. Mr. WICKER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for Technology 
and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to establish a 
regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and report on 
economic security, science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and 
job creation, to establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

        At the end of title III of division F, add the following:

     SEC. 63__. NATIONAL POLICY ON STRATEGIC ENERGY ASSET EXPORT 
                   TRANSPORTATION.

       (a) LNG Exports.--
       (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (A) liquefied natural gas (referred to in this paragraph as 
     ``LNG'') is hazardous to national import and export terminals 
     and ports if mishandled;
       (B) LNG is a strategic national asset, the export of which 
     should be used to preserve the tanker fleet and skilled 
     mariner workforce of the United States, which are essential 
     to national security; and
       (C) for the safety and security of the United States, LNG 
     should be exported on vessels documented under the laws of 
     the United States.
       (2) Requirement for transportation of exports of natural 
     gas on vessels documented under laws of the united states.--
     Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717b) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Transportation of Exports of Natural Gas on Vessels 
     Documented Under Laws of the United States.--
       ``(1) Condition for approval.--Except as provided in 
     paragraph (7), with respect to an application to export 
     natural gas under subsection (a), the Commission shall 
     include in the order issued for that application the 
     condition that the person transport the natural gas on a 
     vessel that meets the requirements described in paragraph 
     (3).
       ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the requirement under 
     paragraph (1) is to ensure that, of all natural gas exported 
     by vessel in a calendar year, the following percentage is 
     exported by a vessel that meets the requirements described in 
     paragraph (3):
       ``(A) In each of the 7 calendar years following the 
     calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not less 
     than 2 percent.
       ``(B) In each of the 8th and 9th calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 3 percent.
       ``(C) In each of the 10th and 11th calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 4 percent.
       ``(D) In each of the 12th and 13th calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 6 percent.
       ``(E) In each of the 14th and 15th calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 7 percent.
       ``(F) In each of the 16th and 17th calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 9 percent.
       ``(G) In each of the 18th and 19th calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 11 percent.
       ``(H) In each of the 20th and 21st calendar years following 
     the calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not 
     less than 13 percent.
       ``(I) In the 22nd calendar year after the calendar year in 
     which this subsection is enacted and each calendar year 
     thereafter, not less than 15 percent.
       ``(3) Requirements for vessels.--A vessel meets the 
     requirements described in this paragraph--
       ``(A) with respect to each of the 5 calendar years 
     following the calendar year in which this subsection is 
     enacted--
       ``(i) if--

       ``(I) the vessel is documented under the laws of the United 
     States; and
       ``(II) with respect to any retrofit work necessary for the 
     vessel to export natural gas--

       ``(aa) such work is done in a shipyard in the United 
     States; and
       ``(bb) any component of the vessel listed in paragraph (4) 
     that is installed during the course of such work is 
     manufactured in the United States; or
       ``(ii) if--

       ``(I) the vessel is built in the United States;
       ``(II) the vessel is documented under the laws of the 
     United States;
       ``(III) all major components of the hull or superstructure 
     of the vessel are manufactured (including all manufacturing 
     processes from the initial melting stage through the 
     application of coatings for iron or steel products) in the 
     United States; and
       ``(IV) the components of the vessel listed in paragraph (4) 
     are manufactured in the United States; and

       ``(B) with respect to the 6th calendar year following the 
     calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, and each 
     calendar year thereafter, if the vessel meets the 
     requirements of subparagraph (A)(ii).
       ``(4) Components.--The components of a vessel listed in 
     this paragraph are the following:
       ``(A) Air circuit breakers.
       ``(B) Welded shipboard anchor and mooring chain with a 
     diameter of 4 inches or less.
       ``(C) Powered and non-powered valves in Federal Supply 
     Classes 4810 and 4820 used in piping.
       ``(D) Machine tools in the Federal Supply Classes for 
     metal-working machinery numbered 3405, 3408, 3410 through 
     3419, 3426, 3433, 3438, 3441 through 3443, 3445, 3446, 3448, 
     3449, 3460, and 3461.
       ``(E) Auxiliary equipment for shipboard services, including 
     pumps.
       ``(F) Propulsion equipment, including engines, propulsion 
     motors, reduction gears, and propellers.
       ``(G) Shipboard cranes.
       ``(H) Spreaders for shipboard cranes.
       ``(I) Rotating electrical equipment, including electrical 
     alternators and motors.
       ``(J) Compressors, pumps, and heat exchangers used in 
     managing and re-liquefying boil-off gas from liquefied 
     natural gas.

[[Page S2802]]

       ``(5) Waiver authority.--The Commission may waive the 
     requirement under clause (i)(II)(bb) or (ii)(IV), as 
     applicable, of paragraph (3)(A) with respect to a component 
     of a vessel if the Maritime Administrator determines that--
       ``(A) application of the requirement would--
       ``(i) result in an increase of 25 percent or more in the 
     cost of the component of the vessel; or
       ``(ii) cause unreasonable delays to be incurred in building 
     or retrofitting the vessel; or
       ``(B) such component is not manufactured in the United 
     States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities of a 
     satisfactory quality.
       ``(6) Opportunities for licensed and unlicensed mariners.--
     Except as provided in paragraph (7), the Commission shall 
     include, in any order issued under subsection (a) that 
     authorizes a person to export natural gas, a condition that 
     the person provide opportunities for United States licensed 
     and unlicensed mariners to receive experience and training 
     necessary to become credentialed in working on a vessel 
     transporting natural gas.
       ``(7) Exception.--The Commission may not include in any 
     order issued under subsection (a) authorizing a person to 
     export natural gas to a nation with which there is in effect 
     a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade 
     in natural gas a condition described in paragraph (1), or a 
     condition described in paragraph (6), if the United States 
     Trade Representative certifies to the Commission, in writing, 
     that such condition would violate obligations of the United 
     States under such free trade agreement.
       ``(8) Use of federal information.--In carrying out 
     paragraph (1), the Commission--
       ``(A) shall use information made available by--
       ``(i) the Energy Information Administration; or
       ``(ii) any other Federal agency or entity the Commission 
     determines appropriate; and
       ``(B) may use information made available by a private 
     entity only if applicable information described in 
     subparagraph (A) is not available.''.
       (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas 
     Act (15 U.S.C. 717b(c)) is amended by striking ``or the 
     exportation of natural gas'' and inserting ``or, subject to 
     subsection (g), the exportation of natural gas''.
       (b) Crude Oil.--Section 101 of title I of division O of the 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 6212a) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``subsections (c) and 
     (d)'' and inserting ``subsections (c), (d), and (f)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Transportation of Exports of Crude Oil on Vessels 
     Documented Under Laws of the United States.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (6), as 
     a condition to export crude oil, the President shall require 
     that a person exporting crude oil transport the crude oil on 
     a vessel that meets the requirements described in paragraph 
     (3).
       ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the requirement under 
     paragraph (1) is to ensure that, of all crude oil exported by 
     vessel in a calendar year, the following percentage is 
     exported by a vessel that meets the requirements described in 
     paragraph (3):
       ``(A) In each of the 7 calendar years following the 
     calendar year in which this subsection is enacted, not less 
     than 3 percent.
       ``(B) In each of the 8th, 9th, and 10th calendar years 
     following the calendar year in which this subsection is 
     enacted, not less than 6 percent.
       ``(C) In each of the 11th, 12th, and 13th calendar years 
     following the calendar year in which this subsection is 
     enacted, not less than 8 percent.
       ``(D) In the 14th calendar year following the calendar year 
     in which this subsection is enacted and each calendar year 
     thereafter, not less than 10 percent.
       ``(3) Requirements for vessels.--A vessel meets the 
     requirements described in this paragraph--
       ``(A) with respect to each of the 4 calendar years 
     following the calendar year in which this subsection is 
     enacted--
       ``(i) if--

       ``(I) the vessel is documented under the laws of the United 
     States; and
       ``(II) with respect to any retrofit work necessary for the 
     vessel to export crude oil--

       ``(aa) such work is done in a shipyard in the United 
     States; and
       ``(bb) any component of the vessel listed in paragraph (4) 
     that is installed during the course of such work is 
     manufactured in the United States; or
       ``(ii) if--

       ``(I) the vessel is built in the United States;
       ``(II) the vessel is documented under the laws of the 
     United States;
       ``(III) all major components of the hull or superstructure 
     of the vessel are manufactured (including all manufacturing 
     processes from the initial melting stage through the 
     application of coatings for iron or steel products) in the 
     United States; and
       ``(IV) the components of the vessel listed in paragraph (4) 
     are manufactured in the United States; and

       ``(B) with respect to the 5th calendar year following the 
     calendar year in which this subsection is enacted and each 
     calendar year thereafter, if the vessel meets the 
     requirements of subparagraph (A)(ii).
       ``(4) Components.--The components of a vessel listed in 
     this paragraph are the following:
       ``(A) Air circuit breakers.
       ``(B) Welded shipboard anchor and mooring chain with a 
     diameter of four inches or less.
       ``(C) Powered and non-powered valves in Federal Supply 
     Classes 4810 and 4820 used in piping.
       ``(D) Machine tools in the Federal Supply Classes for 
     metal-working machinery numbered 3405, 3408, 3410 through 
     3419, 3426, 3433, 3438, 3441 through 3443, 3445, 3446, 3448, 
     3449, 3460, and 3461.
       ``(E) Auxiliary equipment for shipboard services, including 
     pumps.
       ``(F) Propulsion equipment, including engines, propulsion 
     motors, reduction gears, and propellers.
       ``(G) Shipboard cranes.
       ``(H) Spreaders for shipboard cranes.
       ``(I) Rotating electrical equipment, including electrical 
     alternators and motors.
       ``(5) Waiver authority.--The President may waive the 
     requirement under clause (i)(II)(bb) or clause (ii)(IV), as 
     applicable, of paragraph (3)(A) with respect to a component 
     of a vessel if the Maritime Administrator determines that--
       ``(A) application of the requirement would--
       ``(i) result in an increase of 25 percent or more in the 
     cost of the component of the vessel; or
       ``(ii) cause unreasonable delays to be incurred in building 
     or retrofitting the vessel; or
       ``(B) such component is not manufactured in the United 
     States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities of a 
     satisfactory quality.
       ``(6) Exception.--The President may not, under paragraph 
     (1), condition the export of crude oil to a nation with which 
     there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national 
     treatment for trade in crude oil if the United States Trade 
     Representative certifies to the President, in writing, that 
     such condition would violate obligations of the United States 
     under such free trade agreement.
       ``(7) Opportunities for licensed and unlicensed mariners.--
     The Maritime Administrator shall ensure that each exporter of 
     crude oil by vessel provides opportunities for United States 
     licensed and unlicensed mariners to receive experience and 
     training necessary to become credentialed in working on such 
     vessels.
       ``(8) Use of federal information.--In carrying out 
     paragraph (1), the President--
       ``(A) shall use information made available by--
       ``(i) the Energy Information Administration; or
       ``(ii) any other Federal agency or entity the Commission 
     determines appropriate; and
       ``(B) may use information made available by a private 
     entity only if applicable information described in 
     subparagraph (A) is not available.''.
       (c) Energy Information Administration Information.--The 
     Secretary of Energy, acting through the Administrator of the 
     Energy Information Administration (referred to in this 
     subsection as the ``Secretary''), shall collect, and make 
     readily available to the public on the internet website of 
     the Energy Information Administration, information on exports 
     by vessel of natural gas and crude oil, including--
       (1) forecasts for, and data on, those exports for the 
     calendar year following the calendar year in which this Act 
     is enacted and each calendar year thereafter; and
       (2) forecasts for those exports for multiyear periods after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, as determined appropriate 
     by the Secretary.
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