Title: Energy Diplomacy Act of 2019
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Energy Diplomacy Act of 2019
This bill authorizes the Department of State to establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources position. The bill also directs the State Department to ensure there are sufficient personnel dedicated to handling energy-related issues, such as (1) formulating policies to advance U.S. energy security interests, (2) providing analysis of the national security implications of global energy and environmental developments, and (3) coordinating energy-related activities with other federal agencies.
The Coordinator for International Energy Affairs position in the State Department shall be eliminated.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2046 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2046

 To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 regarding 
 energy diplomacy and security within the Department of State, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 3, 2019

    Mr. Wright (for himself, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Gonzalez of Texas) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 regarding 
 energy diplomacy and security within the Department of State, 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 ``Energy Diplomacy Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. ENERGY DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

    (a) In General.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(3) Energy resources.--
                    ``(A) Authorization for assistant secretary.--
                Subject to the numerical limitation specified in 
                paragraph (1), there is authorized to be established in 
                the Department of State an Assistant Secretary of State 
                for Energy Resources.
                    ``(B) Personnel.--The Secretary of State shall 
                ensure that there are sufficient personnel dedicated to 
                energy matters within the Department of State who shall 
                be responsible for--
                            ``(i) formulating and implementing 
                        international policies, in coordination with 
                        Secretary of Energy, as appropriate, aimed at 
                        protecting and advancing United States energy 
                        security interests by effectively managing 
                        United States bilateral and multilateral 
                        relations;
                            ``(ii) ensuring that analyses of the 
                        national security implications of global energy 
                        and environmental developments are reflected in 
                        the decision making process within the 
                        Department of State;
                            ``(iii) incorporating energy security 
                        priorities into the activities of the 
                        Department of State;
                            ``(iv) coordinating energy activities 
                        within the Department of State and with 
                        relevant Federal agencies;
                            ``(v) working internationally to--
                                    ``(I) support the development of 
                                energy resources and the distribution 
                                of such resources for the benefit of 
                                the United States and United States 
                                allies and trading partners for their 
                                energy security and economic 
                                development needs;
                                    ``(II) promote availability of 
                                diversified energy supplies and a well-
                                functioning global market for energy 
                                resources, technologies, and expertise 
                                for the benefit of the United States 
                                and United States allies and trading 
                                partners;
                                    ``(III) resolve international 
                                disputes regarding the exploration, 
                                development, production, or 
                                distribution of energy resources;
                                    ``(IV) support the economic and 
                                commercial interests of United States 
                                persons operating in the energy markets 
                                of foreign countries; and
                                    ``(V) support and coordinate 
                                international efforts to alleviate 
                                energy poverty;
                            ``(vi) leading the United States commitment 
                        to the Extractive Industries Transparency 
                        Initiative;
                            ``(vii) coordinating within the Department 
                        of State and with relevant Federal departments 
                        and agencies on developing and implementing 
                        international energy-related sanctions; and
                            ``(viii) coordinating energy security and 
                        other relevant functions within the Department 
                        of State currently undertaken by--
                                    ``(I) the Bureau of Economic and 
                                Business Affairs of the Department of 
                                State;
                                    ``(II) the Bureau of Oceans and 
                                International Environmental and 
                                Scientific Affairs of the Department of 
                                State; and
                                    ``(III) other offices within the 
                                Department of State.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 931 of the Energy Independence 
and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17371) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b); and
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
        (a) and (b), respectively.
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