Title: Expressing opposition to removing sanctions with respect to the Nord Stream II pipeline.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution states that the Nord Stream II, a natural gas pipeline expected to increase Russia's natural gas export capacity, is a drastic step backwards for European energy security and U.S. interests. It also urges the President to use all available means to support European energy security through reducing reliance on Russia.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 426 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 426

 Expressing opposition to removing sanctions with respect to the Nord 
                          Stream II pipeline.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2021

 Mr. Hudson (for himself, Mr. Gallagher, Mr. Cawthorn, Mr. Gibbs, Mrs. 
Wagner, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Rouzer, Mr. Diaz-
  Balart, Mr. Estes, Mr. Harris, Ms. Van Duyne, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. 
 Herrell, Mr. Bost, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Latta, and Mr. Meijer) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing opposition to removing sanctions with respect to the Nord 
                          Stream II pipeline.

Whereas Nord Stream II is an underwater natural gas pipeline that, if completed, 
        will transport natural gas from the Russian Federation through the 
        Baltic Sea to Germany;
Whereas Russia controls the supply of nearly 40 percent of Europe's natural gas 
        and 11 European countries rely on Russian natural gas for 75 percent or 
        more for their annual needs;
Whereas Nord Stream II will increase Russian control over the European energy 
        market;
Whereas President Joe Biden has called Nord Stream II a ``bad deal for Europe'';
Whereas, in his confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, 
        ``I am determined to do whatever we can to prevent that completion.'';
Whereas the Biden administration has identified Nord Stream II AG and Nord 
        Stream II AG head Matthias Warnig as engaged in sanctionable activity;
Whereas a national interest waiver was granted by the Biden administration to 
        Nord Stream II AG and Nord Stream II AG head Matthias Warnig;
Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to support Ukraine's 
        sovereignty, stand with European allies against Russian aggression, and 
        fight corruption;
Whereas Nord Stream II AG is in part driven by Gerhard Schroeder, former German 
        chancellor and now Putin associate, who has become emblematic of 
        autocrats hiring former western officials;
Whereas the Biden administration has stated that anticorruption is one of its 
        policy priorities and Nord Stream II provides a pathway for corruption 
        to enter western democracies, compounding Russia's weaponization of 
        corruption;
Whereas the Biden administration has stated that climate action is one of its 
        policy priorities and Nord Stream II exacerbates climate change;
Whereas Donald Tusk, the former President of the European Council, stated that 
        Nord Stream II would not help diversification, nor would it reduce 
        European dependency on Russian gas;
Whereas it has been longstanding United States policy to support European energy 
        security through diversification of supplies, such as the Southern Gas 
        Corridor which will deliver Caspian Sea energy resources to Southern and 
        Central Europe;
Whereas the existing Ukrainian gas transit system currently has 55,000,000,000 
        cubic meters of spare capacity which is equal to Nord Stream II's 
        planned capacity;
Whereas Ukraine has been a stable and reliable transit hub for energy flowing to 
        European destinations;
Whereas Russia's geopolitical interest in Nord Stream II is not to increase 
        European energy security, but rather to drive a wedge between countries 
        in Europe and drastically diminish Ukraine's political leverage 
        regarding Russia and the significant income Ukraine derives from transit 
        fees;
Whereas Members of Congress on a bipartisan basis have expressed strong 
        opposition to Nord Stream II through statements and legislation; and
Whereas Congress has mandated sanctions against those involved in the 
        construction of the Nord Stream II pipeline on the basis of its 
        constitutional authority to regulate commerce: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) finds that Nord Stream II is a drastic step backwards 
        for European energy security and United States interests;
            (2) calls upon the Biden administration to revoke the 
        national interest waiver granted to Nord Stream II AG and Nord 
        Stream II AG head Matthias Warnig;
            (3) urges the President to use all available means to 
        support European energy security through a policy of reducing 
        reliance on the Russian Federation; and
            (4) urges the President to prioritize the fight against 
        corruption and kleptocracy in Europe by sanctioning those 
        Russian oligarchs and cronies who use dirty money to undermine 
        the rule of law and democracy, as in the case of Nord Stream 
        II.
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