[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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