[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3528-S3530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6399. Mr. RICKETTS (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of title XII, add the following:
Subtitle F--Taiwan Energy Security
SEC. 1271. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``Taiwan Energy Security
and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026''.
SEC. 1272. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Taiwan is a vital democratic partner the energy
security of which is critical to the strategic interests of
the United States in the Indo-Pacific region.
(2) Enhancing Taiwan's energy resilience through
diversified and reliable sources reduces vulnerability to
coercion, disruption, or attack by authoritarian regimes.
(3) The United States possesses abundant supplies of energy
resources, technologies, and expertise that support economic
growth, job creation, and the national security interests of
the United States.
(4) Promoting United States energy exports to and
partnerships with Taiwan aligns with United States energy
diplomacy objectives, strengthens bilateral economic and
security ties, and contributes to regional stability.
(5) Taiwan's energy infrastructure, including electric grid
systems and liquefied natural gas import facilities, is
vulnerable to asymmetric and kinetic threats from the
People's Republic of China.
(6) Supporting Taiwan's efforts to improve the resilience
and security of its energy infrastructure advances deterrence
and promotes continuity of government operations in the event
of a crisis.
SEC. 1273. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENERGY EXPORTS AND
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE FOR TAIWAN.
The Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (22 U.S.C. 3351 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``PART 8--PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENERGY EXPORTS AND ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE FOR TAIWAN
``SEC. 5540A. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
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``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Natural Resources
of the House of Representatives.
``(2) Asymmetric threat.--The term `asymmetric threat'
means a threat posed by unconventional means, including a
cyberattack, sabotage, or economic coercion, designed to
undermine or disrupt the operation of critical
infrastructure.
``SEC. 5540B. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENERGY EXPORTS TO
TAIWAN.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy,
may prioritize efforts to support and facilitate--
``(1) United States energy exports to Taiwan; and
``(2) the development of energy projects that diversify
Taiwan's energy sources.
``(b) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretaries may--
``(1) engage with United States liquefied natural gas
producers, exporters, and infrastructure entities to identify
and address barriers to liquefied natural gas exports and
storage projects intended for the market of Taiwan;
``(2) facilitate coordination between United States private
sector entities, relevant governing authorities, and private
sector stakeholders in Taiwan, including to promote
investment in energy projects in Taiwan and the export of
United States technologies to Taiwan;
``(3) provide diplomatic and technical support for
liquefied natural gas exports, exports of other United States
energy resources and technologies, and storage and related
infrastructure for any relevant energy projects linked to
Taiwan;
``(4) consult with Taiwan to assess and strengthen
liquefied natural gas import and storage capabilities; and
``(5) coordinate interagency efforts to ensure cohesive and
sustained United States support for Taiwan's energy security.
``SEC. 5540C. ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE CAPACITY
BUILDING.
``(a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-
Embargo Act of 2026, the Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy,
may seek to engage with appropriate officials of Taiwan for
the purpose of cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of
Defense, and the head of any other applicable ministry of
Taiwan for capacity building to enhance energy infrastructure
resilience, including defensive military cybersecurity
activities.
``(b) Identification of Activities.--In carrying out
subsection (a), the Secretary of State may identify
cooperative activities--
``(1) to enhance cybersecurity programs to protect grid
operating systems, liquefied natural gas and other energy
storage terminals, and supervisory control and data
acquisition systems;
``(2) to support physical security improvements,
operational redundancy, and continuity-of-operations
planning;
``(3) to engage in joint training exercises and scenario-
based planning with relevant agencies in Taiwan; and
``(4) to support workforce development, emergency response
planning, and institutional modernization of energy sector
operators.
``(c) United States-Taiwan Energy Security Center.--The
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of
Energy, may establish a joint United States-Taiwan Energy
Security Center in the United States, leveraging the
expertise of institutions of higher education and private
sector entities to foster dialogue and collaboration for
academic cooperation in energy security and resilience.
``(d) Authorization of Assistance.--The Secretary of State,
in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Energy, may provide technical assistance to
support the activities described in subsection (b) or the
center described in subsection (c).
``(e) Implementation.--
``(1) In general.--Assistance under this section shall be
provided through the American Institute in Taiwan and in
consultation with relevant authorities in Taiwan, consistent
with the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.).
``(2) Notification.--Any assistance provided by the
Department of State pursuant this section shall be subject to
the regular notification requirements of section 634A of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).
``(f) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo
Act of 2026, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy, shall
provide to the appropriate congressional committees a
briefing on the implementation of this section.
``SEC. 5540D. ANNUAL REPORT.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-
Embargo Act of 2026, and annually thereafter for 3 years, the
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of
Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of
Defense, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a report that--
``(1) describes actions taken under this part;
``(2) identifies barriers to--
``(A) increased United States energy exports to Taiwan;
``(B) increased investment in Taiwan's energy sector that
would strengthen Taiwan's energy resilience;
``(C) energy infrastructure security cooperation; and
``(D) enhancing the resilience of Taiwan's energy supply
against economic coercion and supply chain disruptions, with
due consideration for national security implications;
``(3) evaluates the effectiveness of capacity building and
technical assistance activities carried out under section
5540C; and
``(4) provides recommendations to expand and diversify
Taiwan's energy sources and improve future bilateral energy
cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
``(b) Form.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form but may include a
classified annex.''.
SEC. 1274. TRAINING TO IMPROVE TAIWAN'S CRITICAL ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION.
Section 5504(a)(3) of the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act
(22 U.S.C. 3353(a)(3)) is amended by inserting after
``capabilities'' the following: ``and critical energy
infrastructure protection''.
SEC. 1275. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TAIWAN'S
USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the International Atomic Energy Agency,
nuclear energy--
(A) is the second safest source of energy;
(B) is one of only 2 clean energies that offer non-stop
baseload power required for sustainable economic growth and
improved human welfare; and
(C) when compared with other sources of electricity from
cradle to grave, has the lowest carbon footprint, uses fewer
materials, and takes up less land.
(2) A nuclear fuel assembly lasts up to 6 years, making
supply more resistant to maritime disruption.
(3) Taiwan has built a robust civilian nuclear capability
over previous decades that has shown the potential to provide
clean, reliable power to Taiwan.
(4) On May 17, 2025, the Maanshan-2, Taiwan's last
operating nuclear power plant, was shut down after its 40-
year operating license expired.
(5) There are compelling economic and security reasons to
evaluate placing existing infrastructure back in service to
ensure Taiwan has clean, reliable power that is more
resilient in a contingency.
(6) As a result of Taiwan's substantial use of energy in
industrial manufacturing and production, and emerging energy
requirements for electrification, artificial intelligence,
and data center support, there is considerable benefit for
Taiwan to evaluate new small modular reactors technology to
augment its energy capacity and resilience.
(7) As Taiwan modernizes its military, the power demand
from command-and-control systems, intelligence platforms,
drone operations, and joint battlespace integration will
continue to increase.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) it is in the interests of both the United States and
Taiwan for Taiwan--
(A) to maintain nuclear power as an energy source; and
(B) to utilize new nuclear technologies, including Gen III+
nuclear reactors and small modular reactor technology; and
(2) the United States should prioritize assistance and
cooperation with Taiwan on nuclear energy to improve
technology exports and job creation in the United States and
energy security and resilience in Taiwan.
SEC. 1276. INSURANCE FOR VESSELS TRANSPORTING VITAL GOODS TO
STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
Section 53902 of title 46, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Vessels Transporting Vital Goods to Strategic
Partners.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation may
provide insurance and reinsurance under this chapter for any
vessel engaged in commerce transporting critical energy,
humanitarian, or other goods to Taiwan or another strategic
partner of the United States that is facing coercive maritime
threats if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the
Director of National Intelligence, that providing such
insurance or reinsurance is necessary to support vital
strategic commerce or to deter coercive maritime behavior
that undermines regional security.
``(2) Nonapplicability of certain condition.--The condition
under section 53902(c) shall not apply with respect to a
vessel described in paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 1277. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING CONTINUED UNITED
STATES POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN AND THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
Nothing in this subtitle may be construed as a change to
the One China Policy of the
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United States, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act
(22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the three United States-People's
Republic of China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.
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