I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2023 
To require reports by the Secretary of State and the Director of National 
Intelligence relating to construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2019 
Mr. HECK (for himself, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. BARR, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, 
Mr. CHABOT, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. COOK, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, 
Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. HARRIS, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mr. HIMES, Mr. HUDSON, 
Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. HURD of Texas, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KILMER, Mr. 
KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mrs. RODGERS of Washington, Mr. MEADOWS, Mr. 
OLSON, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. ROONEY of Florida, Mr. TURNER, and Mr. 
WEBER of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require reports by the Secretary of State and the Director 
of National Intelligence relating to construction of the 
Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect European En-
ergy Security Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Russian Federation is constructing a 
gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, named the 
Nord Stream 2 pipeline, the completion of which 
could address potential increases in European en-
ergy consumption but also increase European de-
pendence on Russian energy and have destabilizing 
effects on the Government of Ukraine if Ukraine 
loses energy transit fees as a result of construction 
of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. 
(2) According to experts, the Nord Stream 2 
pipeline would transport 80 percent of Russia’s cur-
rent gas exports to Europe through one single pipe-
line system, which would run counter to the Euro-
pean Union energy policy of energy security and di-
versification of supply. 
(3) Section 257(a) of the Countering America’s 
Adversaries through Sanctions Act of 2017 (Public 
Law 115–44; 22 U.S.C. 9546(a)) states in part that 
it is the policy of the United States— 
(A) ‘‘to work with European Union mem-
ber states and European Union institutions to 
promote energy security through developing di-
versified and liberalized energy markets that 
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provide diversified sources, suppliers, and 
routes’’; and 
(B) ‘‘to continue to oppose [the Nord 
Stream 2 pipeline] given its detrimental im-
pacts on the European Union’s energy security, 
gas market development in Central and Eastern 
Europe, and energy reforms in Ukraine’’. 
(4) On January 27, 2018, then-Secretary of 
State Rex Tillerson stated, ‘‘[T]he United States op-
poses the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. We see it as un-
dermining Europe’s overall energy security and sta-
bility . . .’’. Tillerson further stated that the pipe-
line would allow Putin to use energy as a ‘‘political 
tool’’. 
(5) On March 11, 2018, German chancellor An-
gela Merkel acknowledged ‘‘political’’ and ‘‘stra-
tegic’’ concerns regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipe-
line and stated that the pipeline ‘‘is not just an eco-
nomic project, but that, of course, political factors 
must also be taken into account’’. 
(6) Gazprom, a Russian energy company, is 
controlled by the Government of the Russian Fed-
eration, which, according to the European Commis-
sion’s Statement of Objections to Gazprom dated 
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April 22, 2015, has undertaken efforts to use gas as 
a weapon of coercion. 
(7) The Department of State, led by the Bu-
reau of Energy of Resources, has worked extensively 
with allies, including Denmark, to thwart such Rus-
sian efforts. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
should— 
(1) continue to oppose construction of the Nord 
Stream 2 pipeline and other Russian Federation gas 
pipelines in northern Europe; and 
(2) take affirmative diplomatic steps to halt the 
construction of such pipelines. 
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REPORT BY SECRETARY OF STATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of State shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report on actions the Depart-
ment of State is taking to implement section 257 of 
the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanc-
tions Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–44; 22 U.S.C. 
9546). 
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(2) ELEMENTS.—The report shall include de-
tails on the following: 
(A) Efforts by the Department of State 
since August 3, 2017, to work with European 
Union member states and institutions to pro-
mote energy security and decrease their depend-
ence on Russian sources of energy, including 
use of the Countering Russian Influence Fund 
authorized pursuant to section 254 of the 
Countering 
America’s 
Adversaries 
through 
Sanctions Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–44; 22 
U.S.C. 9543). 
(B) Diplomatic efforts undertaken by the 
Department of State to oppose directly the 
Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the Turk Stream 
pipeline. 
(C) An estimation of European natural gas 
supply demand from 2019 through 2023. 
(b) REPORT BY DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTEL-
LIGENCE.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intel-
ligence shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report on the impact of the Nord Stream 2 pipe-
line on— 
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(1) United States interests and security objec-
tives; 
(2) European energy security and defense pos-
ture; 
(3) Russian influence in Europe; and 
(4) Ukraine, including the implications of re-
ductions in transit fees as a result of Nord Stream 
2 pipeline. 
(c) FORM.—The reports required by this section shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may contain a clas-
sified annex. 
(d) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES 
DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate con-
gressional committees’’ means— 
(1) in the House of Representatives— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services; 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs; 
(C) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce; and 
(D) the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence; and 
(2) in the Senate— 
(A) the Committee on Armed Services; 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations; 
and 
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(C) the Select Committee on Intelligence. 
Æ 
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