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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2722 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2722
To promote the energy security of Taiwan, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 4, 2025
Mr. Ricketts (for himself and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote the energy security of Taiwan, 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 ``Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-
Embargo Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. 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
liquefied natural gas and other energy resources 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) The Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Project, which has
received pledged support from Taiwan's state energy firm CPC
Corp, would enhance the ability of the United States to supply
Taiwan and other allies and partners of the United States in
the Indo-Pacific with a cost-effective, reliable supply of
energy.
(6) 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.
(7) 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. 3. PROMOTION OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS 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 LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS AND ENERGY
INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE FOR TAIWAN
``SEC. 5540A. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(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 LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORTS TO TAIWAN.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy, shall prioritize
efforts to support and facilitate increased exportation to Taiwan of
liquefied natural gas produced in the United States.
``(b) Required Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretaries shall--
``(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 and relevant government and private sector
stakeholders in Taiwan;
``(3) provide diplomatic and technical support to
streamline regulatory processes and expedite permitting for
liquefied natural gas export and storage infrastructure
projects linked to Taiwan;
``(4) consult with the Government of 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 liquefied natural gas
exports to Taiwan.
``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 2025,
the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense
and the Secretary of Energy, shall 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 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 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 2025,
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 2025,
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 exportation of liquefied natural
gas to Taiwan; and
``(B) energy infrastructure security cooperation;
``(3) evaluates the effectiveness of capacity building and
technical assistance activities carried out under section
5540C; and
``(4) provides recommendations to expand 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. 4. 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. 5. 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 the Government of Taiwan to consider--
(A) maintaining nuclear power as an energy source;
and
(B) utilizing 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. 6. 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).''.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 325.
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