Title: Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby strengthening the United States and European national security.
Policy area: Energy

Summary:
This resolution supports the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to (1) increase energy resilience and infrastructure connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe; and (2) further the process of building a Europe that is undivided, secure, prosperous, and free.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 672 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 672

   Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to 
 increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby 
    strengthening the United States and European national security.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 31, 2019

  Ms. Kaptur (for herself, Mr. Kinzinger, Mr. Keating, Mr. Sires, Mr. 
 Pence, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Costa, Mr. Rooney of Florida, Mr. Hunter, Mr. 
Harris, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Heck, Mr. Turner, Mr. Quigley, and Mr. 
Price of North Carolina) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to 
 increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby 
    strengthening the United States and European national security.

Whereas, in 2015, 12 Central and European nations of the European Union 
        established the Three Seas Initiative to increase energy autonomy and 
        resilience through support of collective financing for new 
        infrastructure projects to connect the region between the Adriatic, 
        Baltic, and Black Seas;
Whereas the United States pledged support and willingness to serve as a 
        steadfast partner of the Three Seas Initiative's effort at the July 2017 
        Warsaw summit;
Whereas the Three Seas Initiative will advance economic growth, resilience, and 
        energy security in this strategic region, thereby increasing the 
        national security of the United States;
Whereas the President of the European Commission recognized the Three Seas 
        Initiative as a ``catalyst for the cohesion and convergence of the EU 
        and for the strengthening of the transatlantic link'';
Whereas Soviet-imposed communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe left the 
        region with a significant infrastructure deficit, especially in the 
        realm of north-south transportation and energy lines;
Whereas the current state of infrastructure in Central and Eastern Europe 
        nations restricts energy, water, and telecommunications 
        interconnectivity across the region;
Whereas the infrastructure deficit leaves these nations overly dependent on 
        Russia for their energy and additional economic needs;
Whereas Russia seeks to undermine democratic institutions and liberty in Europe 
        through hybrid means, including using energy as a tool for coercion;
Whereas Russian gas pipeline projects, such as Nord Stream II and Turk Stream, 
        are political and seek to undermine Europe's energy security;
Whereas diversification of energy sources and supply routes, including 
        development of renewable energy sources and technology, is critical to 
        bolstering energy security;
Whereas members of the Three Seas Initiative have prioritized key energy 
        projects such as the Krk, Croatia LNG terminal, Gas Interconnector 
        Republic of Poland-Republic of Lithuania, the Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-
        Austria (BRUA) gas interconnector, and other cross-border 
        interconnections;
Whereas members of the Three Seas Initiative have also prioritized key digital 
        infrastructure and transportation projects to support modern and vibrant 
        economies including the Three Seas Initiative Digital Highway, the 
        Viking Train, the Adriatic TEN-T Core Network Corridor, and the FAIRway 
        Danube, among others; and
Whereas the Three Seas Initiative includes vital allies of the United States: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to 
        increase energy resilience and infrastructure connectivity 
        across Central and Eastern Europe and to further the process of 
        building a Europe that is undivided, secure, prosperous, and 
        free;
            (2) encourages Three Seas Initiative nations to take action 
        on joint financing of projects to strengthen energy 
        infrastructure projects in Central and Eastern Europe, 
        including through national contributions to the Three Seas 
        Initiative Infrastructure Fund;
            (3) reaffirms the authority of the President under the 
        Build Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 115-254) to provide 
        the United States financing to the Three Seas Initiative and 
        its projects in cases that advance national economic or foreign 
        policy interests of the United States and would produce 
        significant developmental outcomes or provide developmental 
        benefits to the poorest population;
            (4) encourages the Three Seas Initiative member nations to 
        boost cross-border cooperation and financing on diversification 
        of energy sources, including clean energy sources and 
        infrastructure;
            (5) encourages Three Seas Initiative nations to extend this 
        vision of enhanced regional infrastructural connectivity to 
        non-EU member states in the Three Seas region, including 
        Ukraine, Moldova, and those in the Western Balkans; and
            (6) strongly condemns any efforts of Russia to weaponize 
        energy as a means to put pressure on or to undermine liberty 
        and democracy in Europe.
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