[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6772 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6772
To amend the Natural Gas Act to authorize expedited approval of
applications to export natural gas to certain allies of the United
States, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2022
Mr. Tony Gonzales of Texas (for himself, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. McKinley, Mr.
Carter of Georgia, Mr. Budd, Mr. Keller, and Ms. Cheney) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Natural Gas Act to authorize expedited approval of
applications to export natural gas to certain allies of the United
States, 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 ``Expediting Natural Gas Exports to
Allies Act''.
SEC. 2. NATURAL GAS EXPORTS TO ALLIES AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
(a) Finding.--Congress finds that expediting the approval of
natural gas export applications for projects intended to increase the
capacity of the United States to export natural gas to allies and
strategic partners will--
(1) empower United States natural gas exporters to better
assist the strategic and national security interests of the
United States and allies and strategic partners of the United
States; and
(2) lead to job growth, economic development, and energy
security.
(b) Natural Gas Exports.--Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act (15
U.S.C. 717b(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(c) For purposes'' and inserting the
following:
``(c) Expedited Application and Approval Process.--
``(1) Definition of covered nation.--
``(A) In general.--In this subsection, the term
`covered nation'--
``(i) means an ally described in section
3(b)(2) of the Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2753(b)(2)); and
``(ii) during the period described in
subparagraph (B), includes Cyprus, Finland,
Moldova, Sweden, Taiwan, and Ukraine.
``(B) Period described.--The period described in
this subparagraph is the period--
``(i) beginning on the date of enactment of
the Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies
Act; and
``(ii) ending on December 31, 2026, or such
later date as the President determines is in
the interest of national defense (as defined in
section 702 of the Defense Production Act of
1950 (50 U.S.C. 4552)) or is otherwise in the
interests of the United States.
``(2) Expedited approval.--Except as provided in paragraph
(3), for purposes'';
(2) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by inserting ``the
exportation of natural gas to a covered nation,'' before ``or
the exportation''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Exclusions.--
``(A) Nations subject to sanctions.--The Commission
shall not grant expedited approval under paragraph (2)
of an application for exportation of natural gas to any
nation that is subject to sanctions or trade
restrictions imposed by the United States.
``(B) Nations designated by congress.--The
Commission shall not grant expedited approval under
paragraph (2) of an application for exportation of
natural gas to any nation designated by an Act of
Congress as excluded from such expedited approval for
reasons of national security.''.
(c) Effect.--The amendments made by subsection (b) shall not affect
any Federal authorization to export natural gas from the United States
to a foreign nation or to import natural gas into the United States
from a foreign nation that is in effect on the date of enactment of
this Act.
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