European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019
This bill directs the Department of State to prioritize assistance to develop energy infrastructure in Europe, in particular for projects involving the European Commission and governments in the region. Assistance shall include political, technical, and diplomatic support.
Projects eligible for such assistance include infrastructure for natural gas, electricity transmission, and renewable energy. The State Department shall give preference to projects that (1) improve the capacity to transfer gas and electricity within and between European countries, (2) have been identified by the European Commission as integral for regional energy security, (3) are expected to enhance energy market integration, (4) can attract other sources of funding, and (5) can potentially use U.S. goods and services.
The bill reauthorizes through FY2021 the Countering Russian Influence Fund and establishes that U.S. agencies may use the fund to provide assistance under the bill.
The President shall report to Congress annually about U.S. assistance provided under the bill.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1453 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1453
To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United
States agencies to encourage European countries to diversify their
energy sources and supply routes, increase European countries' energy
security, and help the United States reach its global energy security
goals, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2019
Mr. Kinzinger (for himself, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United
States agencies to encourage European countries to diversify their
energy sources and supply routes, increase European countries' energy
security, and help the United States reach its global energy security
goals, and for other purposes.
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. 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 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--
(1) to advance United States foreign policy and development
goals by assisting European 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) to promote the energy security of European countries by
encouraging the development of accessible, transparent, and
competitive energy markets that provide diversified sources,
types, and routes of energy;
(3) to encourage United States public and private sector
investment in energy infrastructure projects in European
countries to bridge the gap between energy security
requirements and commercial demand in a way that is consistent
with the region's absorptive capacity; and
(4) to help facilitate the export of United States energy
resources, technology, and expertise to global markets in a way
that benefits the energy security of European countries.
SEC. 3. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN EUROPE.
(a) In General.--In pursuing the policy described in section 2(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 or of such agencies to support the efforts
of European countries to increase their energy security, including
through--
(1) providing diplomatic, political, and technical support
to European countries--
(A) to facilitate international negotiations with
respect to cross-border infrastructure;
(B) to enhance European countries' regulatory
environment with respect to energy; or
(C) to develop accessible, transparent, and
competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources,
types, and routes of energy; and
(2) providing support to improve European energy markets,
including early-stage project support and late-stage project
support, for the construction or improvement of energy
infrastructure--
(A) to diversify the energy sources and supply
routes of European countries;
(B) to enhance energy market integration across the
region; or
(C) to increase competition within energy markets.
(b) Project Selection.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
agencies described in subsection (a), shall identify 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 the 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 natural gas, coal, nuclear, or
other electricity generation facilities to
increase the efficiency and reliability of
electricity production; and
(B) located in a European country.
(3) Preference.--In selecting among projects that are
eligible under paragraph (2), the 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 countries;
(B) have already been identified by the European
Commission as being integral for the energy security of
European 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) Countering Russian Influence Fund.--Section 254 of the
Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017 (22
U.S.C. 9543) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``fiscal years 2018 and
2019'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2018 through 2021''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``(7) To assist United States agencies in providing
assistance under section 3 of the European Energy Security and
Diversification Act of 2019.''.
SEC. 4. 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
submit 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 3
that includes--
(1) a description of the energy infrastructure projects for
which the United States has provided assistance; and
(2) for each such project--
(A) a description of the role of the United States
in the project, including the amount and form of any
early-stage project support or late-stage project
support; and
(B) an update on the progress made on the project
as of the date of the report.
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) European country.--The term ``European country'' means
the following:
(A) Albania.
(B) Andorra.
(C) Austria.
(D) Belgium.
(E) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(F) Bulgaria.
(G) Croatia.
(H) Cyprus.
(I) The Czech Republic.
(J) Denmark.
(K) Estonia.
(L) Finland.
(M) France.
(N) Germany.
(O) Greece.
(P) Hungary.
(Q) Ireland.
(R) Italy.
(S) Kosovo.
(T) Latvia.
(U) Liechtenstein.
(V) Lithuania.
(W) Luxembourg.
(X) Moldova.
(Y) Monaco.
(Z) Montenegro.
(AA) The Netherlands.
(BB) North Macedonia.
(CC) Norway.
(DD) Poland.
(EE) Portugal.
(FF) Romania.
(GG) San Marino.
(HH) Serbia.
(II) Slovakia.
(JJ) Slovenia.
(KK) Spain.
(LL) Sweden.
(MM) Switzerland.
(NN) Ukraine.
(OO) United Kingdom.
(PP) Vatican City.
(2) Early-stage project support.--The term ``early-stage
project support'' includes--
(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; and
(G) long-term energy sector planning.
(3) Late-stage project support.--The term ``late-stage
project support'' includes loans, guarantees, insurance,
reinsurance, equity investments, and transaction advisory
services.
(4) International financial institution.--The term
``international financial institution'' has the meaning given
the term in section 1701(c) of the International Financial
Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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