Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act
Bill: S.3661 | Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco (R-FL)
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
Expediting Natural Gas Exports to Allies Act
This bill revises the approval process for applications to export natural gas. Specifically, the bill expedites the approval process for certain U.S. allies, such as Taiwan and Ukraine. However, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may not grant expedited approval for applications to export natural gas to any nation that is (1) subject to sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United States, or (2) designated by acts of Congress from such expedited approval for reasons of national security.

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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