[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6748 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6748
To impose sanctions with respect to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 15, 2022
Mr. Pfluger (for himself, Mr. Banks, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Babin, Mr.
Burgess, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Mann, and Mr. Williams of Texas)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and
Commerce, Natural Resources, and the Judiciary, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To impose sanctions with respect to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline 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 ``Midland Over Moscow Act''.
SEC. 2. STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of
Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the
Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Interior shall, within
180 days, submit to the appropriate congressional committees, a
strategy detailing the use of diplomatic, financial, and economic means
to strengthen United States energy independence, and work with NATO,
and other allies and partners, to make countries in the European
continent less dependent on Russian oil and gas. The strategy shall
have the following elements:
(1) A description of how the reduction of regulatory
barriers to domestic energy production could assist in these
objectives.
(2) A description of how economic sanctions can be utilized
to counter the Russian Federation's attempts to make Europe
dependent on Russian oil and gas, including a description on
how the President will end waivers provided pursuant to the
Protecting European Energy Security through Sanctions Act
(PEESA) in connection with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
(3) A description of how sanctions on Russia's financial
sector, including on multiple major banks and financial systems
within the Russian Federation, could be utilized to counter
Russia's energy exports to Europe.
(4) A description of how the President will use economic
sanctions to permanently and irreversibly stop the Nord Stream
2 pipeline, prevent its construction, and punish all persons
and entities responsible for its attempted construction,
operation, or development.
(5) A description of how diplomatic efforts could be
utilized to bring together our European and NATO allies,
including Germany, to permanently and irreversibly stop the
Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
(6) A description of how Russia's growing relationship with
China and Iran in the energy sector effects United States
security interests.
(7) A description of how the President will end the
moratorium on oil and gas leases on public land.
(8) A description of how diplomatic efforts could be
utilized to promote dialogue within the European Union on their
efforts to diversify their natural gas supply through the
Southern Gas Corridor.
SEC. 3. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS RELATED TO NORD STREAM 2.
(a) Imposition of Sanctions.--Not later than 10 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose sanctions
under subsection (b)(1) with respect to--
(1) any entity responsible for planning, construction,
maintenance, technical assistance, engineering assistance,
financing, or operation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline or a
successor entity; and
(2) any other corporate officer of or principal shareholder
with a controlling interest in an entity described in paragraph
(1).
(b) Sanctions Described.--
(1) In general.--The sanctions described in this subsection
are the following:
(A) Blocking of property.--The President shall
exercise all of the powers granted to the President
under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to
block and prohibit all transactions in property and
interests in property of the foreign person if such
property and interests in property are in the United
States, come within the United States, or are or come
within the possession or control of a United States
person.
(B) Aliens ineligible for visas, admission, or
parole.--
(i) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien
who the Secretary of State or the Secretary of
Homeland Security (or a designee of one of such
Secretaries) knows, or has reason to believe,
has knowingly engaged in any activity described
in subsection (a) is--
(I) inadmissible to the United
States;
(II) ineligible to receive a visa
or other documentation to enter the
United States; and
(III) otherwise ineligible to be
admitted or paroled into the United
States or to receive any other benefit
under the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(ii) Current visas revoked.--
(I) In general.--The issuing
consular officer, the Secretary of
State, or the Secretary of Homeland
Security (or a designee of one of such
Secretaries) shall, in accordance with
section 221(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(i)),
revoke any visa or other entry
documentation issued to an alien
described in clause (i) regardless of
when the visa or other entry
documentation is issued.
(II) Effect of revocation.--A
revocation under subclause (I) shall
take effect immediately and shall
automatically cancel any other valid
visa or entry documentation that is in
the alien's possession.
(2) Exceptions.--
(A) United nations headquarters agreement.--The
sanctions described under paragraph (1)(B) shall not
apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling
the alien into the United States is necessary to permit
the United States to comply with the Agreement
regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations,
signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into
force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and
the United States, or other applicable international
obligations.
(B) Exception for intelligence, law enforcement,
and national security activities.--Sanctions under
paragraph (1) shall not apply to any authorized
intelligence, law enforcement, or national security
activities of the United States.
(C) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
(i) In general.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of this section, the authorities and
requirements to impose sanctions under this
section shall not include the authority or a
requirement to impose sanctions on the
importation of goods.
(ii) Good defined.--In this subparagraph,
the term ``good'' means any article, natural or
man-made substance, material, supply or
manufactured product, including inspection and
test equipment, and excluding technical data.
(c) Penalties.--The penalties provided for in subsections (b) and
(c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of regulations
promulgated to carry out this section or the sanctions imposed pursuant
to this section to the same extent that such penalties apply to a
person that commits an unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that
Act.
(d) Implementation Authority.--The President may exercise all
authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and 205 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704)
for purposes of carrying out this section.
(e) Regulatory Authority.--The President shall, not later than 10
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate
regulations as necessary for the implementation of this section.
(f) Repeal of National Interest Waiver Under Protecting Europe's
Energy Security Act of 2019.--Section 7503 of the Protecting Europe's
Energy Security Act of 2019 (title LXXV of Public Law 116-92; 22 U.S.C.
9526 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)(C), by striking ``subsection (i)''
and inserting ``subsection (h)'';
(2) by striking subsection (f);
(3) by redesignating subsections (g) through (k) as
subsections (f) through (j), respectively; and
(4) in subsection (i), as redesignated by paragraph (3), by
striking ``subsection (h)'' and inserting ``subsection (g)''.
SEC. 4. NATURAL GAS EXPORTS.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that expanding natural gas exports
will lead to increased investment and development of domestic supplies
of natural gas that will contribute to job growth and economic
development.
(b) Natural Gas Exports.--Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15
U.S.C. 717b(c)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``or any other nation not excluded by this
section'' after ``trade in natural gas'';
(2) by striking ``(c) For purposes'' and inserting the
following:
``(c) Expedited Application and Approval Process.--
``(1) In general.--For purposes''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Exclusions.--
``(A) In general.--Any nation subject to sanctions
or trade restrictions imposed by the United States is
excluded from expedited approval under paragraph (1).
``(B) Designation by president or congress.--The
President or Congress may designate nations that may be
excluded from expedited approval under paragraph (1)
for reasons of national security.
``(3) Order not required.--No order is required under
subsection (a) to authorize the export or import of any natural
gas to or from Canada or Mexico.''.
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