Title: Countering Russian Power Plays Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Countering Russian Power Plays Act
This bill directs the President, if certain conditions occur, to impose specified economic, property, and U.S. entry sanctions on each person that: (1) operates the Nord Stream 2 pipeline or sells Russian gas to Europe through the such pipeline, or (2) engages in a significant transaction with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. (Nord Stream 2 is an export gas pipeline currently under construction that will run from Russia to Europe across the Baltic Sea.)
The Department of State shall report to Congress on the U.S. strategy to support European energy security.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6384 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 
  Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on 
Financial 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 Representatives 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''.

SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO NORD STREAM 2.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States--
            (1) should stand by its allies in Europe in combating 
        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, economic 
        stability, and political security of Ukraine, and that reducing 
        gas transfers through Ukraine by means of the Nord Stream 2 
        pipeline would risk destabilizing 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, reliable energy sources, 
        for which the purchase of Russian gas may be an unavoidable 
        component.
    (b) Sanctions Imposed.--Subject to subsection (d), the President 
shall impose five or more sanctions described in section 235 of the 
Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9529) 
with respect to each person described in subsection (c).
    (c) Persons Described.--The persons described in this subsection 
are each person the President determines--
            (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 subsection (c)(1) only if the 
        President determines that--
                    (A) average Russian gas flows through Ukraine to 
                Europe over a period of 12 consecutive months beginning 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act are less 
                than 75 percent of the average annual Russian gas flows 
                through Europe via Ukraine during the three-year period 
                ending on the date of the enactment of this Act;
                    (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 period; 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 COUNCIL.

    (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 Commissioner 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 Europe, in order to promote European 
        security.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Energy 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 support 
European energy security that also includes an analysis of each of the 
following:
            (1) Energy supplies that could be provided by the United 
        States or other allies to European countries.
            (2) Steps to reduce European reliance on Russian energy 
        sources.
            (3) Methods to accelerate emerging energy sources or 
        related technologies.
            (4) Potential industrial partnerships, international 
        financing arrangements, and trade agreements 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.
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