[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3307 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3307
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean
region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 8, 2025
Mr. Schneider (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Ms. Titus, Ms. Malliotakis,
and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean
region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities,
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 ``Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to support the role of Eastern
Mediterranean countries as a strategic gateway in the India-Middle
East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC),
launched at the G20 Summit in 2023 with G7 backing, enhances
connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe while
serving as a strategic alternative to China's Belt and Road
Initiative.
(2) The Eastern Mediterranean region is of strategic
importance to the United States and its allies, as demonstrated
by the United States founding role in the 3+1 framework with
Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.
(3) Energy projects such as the Great Sea Interconnector,
the Gregy Interconnection Project, the Greece-Bulgaria
Interconnector, and the LNG terminals in the Eastern
Mediterranean play a key role in European energy security and
provide critical infrastructure that can serve as the backbone
for linking India, the Gulf, and Europe through the Eastern
Mediterranean.
(4) Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and Israel are key United States
partners in promoting stability, security, and economic
development in the region.
(5) Enhanced defense and security cooperation, as well as
educational and cultural exchanges, are essential for
strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties.
(6) According to Presidential Determination 2025-03, ``the
furnishing of defense articles and defense services to the
Republic of Cyprus will strengthen the security of the United
States and promote world peace''.
(7) The statement of policy in the Israel Relations
Normalization Act of 2022 (22 U.S.C. 8601 note), notably that
it is the policy of the United States ``to expand and
strengthen the Abraham Accords to encourage other nations to
normalize relations with Israel'', should guide the Secretary
of State and other United States actors in their work to
promote integration between India, the Middle East and
southeast Europe.
(8) India has strengthened strategic ties with Greece,
Israel, and Cyprus, fostering economic, maritime, and security
cooperation that aligns with United States regional priorities.
(9) The success of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor depends on infrastructure, security, and innovation
partnerships rooted in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which
serves as the primary connective hub linking the Gulf and
Indian subcontinent to Europe.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the significance of diplomatic initiatives such as the
Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US ``3+1'' format, the East Mediterranean
Gas Forum and the Abraham Accords should be recognized and the
United States should maintain its leadership role in these
diplomatic initiatives;
(2) the United States should continue to actively
participate in the initiatives of the East Mediterranean Gas
Forum;
(3) the Eastern Mediterranean region is a key gateway that
can link three continents and the United States should support
energy and transportation infrastructure, connectivity
initiatives, defense cooperation, and other forms of
integration in and around the region;
(4) the United States recognizes the unique role of Eastern
Mediterranean countries as both a distinct subregion and a
central connector within the broader IMEC corridor;
(5) the ``3+1'' diplomatic initiative should resume with a
meeting of the Secretary of State with the Ministers of Israel,
Greece, and Cyprus; and
(6) the statement of policy in section 203 of the Eastern
Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (22
U.S.C. 2373 note) should guide the Secretary of State in
promoting connectivity between India, the Middle East and
Europe, including participation in the trilateral dialogue on
energy, maritime security, cyber security and protection of
critical infrastructure conducted among Israel, Greece, and
Cyprus.
SEC. 5. DIPLOMACY IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION.
(a) Strategic Dialogues.--The Secretary of State may
institutionalize multilateral strategic dialogues between the United
States and IMEC countries, including dedicated formats with Eastern
Mediterranean countries, with which the United States has a bilateral
strategic dialogue.
(b) Prioritization of the Eastern Mediterranean.--The Secretary of
State shall prioritize the Eastern Mediterranean region in United
States foreign policy, focusing on energy security and defense
cooperation with countries in such region.
SEC. 6. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
(a) Report on Implementation.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the
Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing
the implementation and effect of this Act, including an update on
energy projects and defense cooperation that are being carried out
pursuant to the authorities of this Act and the amendments made by this
Act.
(b) Report on Multilateral Initiatives.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on
each multilateral initiative between the United States and IMEC
countries.
(c) Analysis of Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port
Security.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of
Homeland Security, shall analyze insights gained from the operation of
the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Security (in this
section referred to as ``CYCLOPS'') as a potential model for broad-
based multilateral cooperation.
(d) Study of Program Creation and Expansion.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
State, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the cost
of, steps to, and feasibility of--
(1) creating bilateral programs with Eastern Mediterranean
countries modeled on bilateral programs between the United
States and Israel, including--
(A) the Binational Agriculture Research and
Development Fund;
(B) the United States-Israel Binational Industrial
Research and Development Foundation (including projects
relating to homeland security and cyber security);
(C) the United States-Israel Binational Science
Foundation; and
(D) the United States-Israel Science and Technology
Foundation; and
(2) expanding bilateral programs between the United States
and Israel, including the programs listed in paragraph (1), to
include other Eastern Mediterranean countries and IMEC
countries.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Eastern mediterranean country.--The term ``Eastern
Mediterranean country'' means the following:
(A) The Arab Republic of Egypt.
(B) The Hellenic Republic.
(C) The Republic of Cyprus.
(D) The State of Israel.
(3) IMEC country.--The term ``IMEC country'' means the
following:
(A) The European Union.
(B) The Federal Republic of Germany.
(C) The French Republic.
(D) The Italian Republic.
(E) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(F) The Republic of India.
(G) The United Arab Emirates.
(H) The United States.
(I) Any other country that the Secretary of State
designates as an IMEC country for purposes of this Act.
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