I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6384 
To impose sanctions relating to persons operating the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 16, 2018 
Mr. HUFFMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Finan-
cial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, and 
Ways and Means, 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 relating to persons operating 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 ‘‘Countering Russian 
Power Plays Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO 
NORD STREAM 2. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States— 
(1) should stand by its allies in Europe in com-
bating Russian influence and energy coercion; 
(2) opposes the Nord Stream 2 pipeline because 
of its detrimental impacts on— 
(A) the energy security of the European 
Union; 
(B) the ability of the European Union to 
meet its renewable energy goals; and 
(C) energy reforms in Ukraine; 
(3) has a vested interest in the security, eco-
nomic stability, and political security of Ukraine, 
and that reducing gas transfers through Ukraine by 
means of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would risk de-
stabilizing that country; and 
(4) notwithstanding its opposition to the Nord 
Stream 2 pipeline, recognizes the European Union’s 
proper and fundamental need to secure diverse, reli-
able energy sources, for which the purchase of Rus-
sian gas may be an unavoidable component. 
(b) SANCTIONS IMPOSED.—Subject to subsection (d), 
the President shall impose five or more sanctions de-
scribed in section 235 of the Countering America’s Adver-
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saries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9529) with re-
spect to each person described in subsection (c). 
(c) PERSONS DESCRIBED.—The persons described in 
this subsection are each person the President deter-
mines— 
(1) operates the Nord Stream 2 pipeline or sells 
Russian gas to Europe through the Nord Stream 2 
pipeline; or 
(2) engages in a significant transaction with the 
Nord Stream 2 pipeline. 
(d) CONDITIONS; DELAYED APPLICATION.— 
(1) CONDITIONS.—The President shall impose 
sanctions with respect to persons described in sub-
section (c)(1) only if the President determines 
that— 
(A) average Russian gas flows through 
Ukraine to Europe over a period of 12 consecu-
tive months beginning after the date of the en-
actment of this Act are less than 75 percent of 
the average annual Russian gas flows through 
Europe via Ukraine during the three-year pe-
riod ending on the date of the enactment of this 
Act; 
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(B) Ukraine maintained a reasonable 
standard of operation of gas pipelines during 
such 12-month period; 
(C) Ukraine has not raised transit fees by 
more than five percent in such 12-month pe-
riod; and 
(D) there is no other good cause justifying 
for the reduction of gas flows through Ukraine 
during such 12-month period. 
(2) DELAYED
APPLICATION.—The President 
may not impose sanctions with respect to a person 
described in subsection (c)(2) before the date that is 
180 days after the President imposes sanctions with 
respect to any person described in subsection (c)(1). 
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-EUROPEAN UNION ENERGY COUN-
CIL. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States–European Union Energy 
Council (‘‘Council’’) was established in 2009 to 
deepen coordination on transatlantic energy matters, 
including research and development cooperation. 
(2) The Secretary of State co-chairs the Council 
with the Secretary of Energy for the United States. 
The High Representative for External Affairs and 
the Vice President for Energy Union and Commis-
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sioner for Energy and Climate serve as co-chairs for 
the European Union. 
(3) The Council provides a high-level, bilateral 
method to address energy issues, including means to 
develop alternatives to Russian-supplied gas in Eu-
rope, in order to promote European security. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of En-
ergy should convene, in coordination with the European 
Union co-chairs, a meeting of the Council on an annual 
basis, and that the next such meeting should occur not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(c) REPORT ON ENERGY SUPPORT STRATEGY.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Energy, shall submit to Congress a report 
on the comprehensive strategy of the United States to sup-
port European energy security that also includes an anal-
ysis of each of the following: 
(1) Energy supplies that could be provided by 
the United States or other allies to European coun-
tries. 
(2) Steps to reduce European reliance on Rus-
sian energy sources. 
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(3) Methods to accelerate emerging energy 
sources or related technologies. 
(4) Potential industrial partnerships, inter-
national financing arrangements, and trade agree-
ments to bolster European energy security. 
(5) Legal and political considerations that could 
unnecessarily hinder the United States or allied 
countries from supporting European energy needs. 
Æ 
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