Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020

Bill: 116-s-3897
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2020-06-04
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

Congressional oversight

Europe

Foreign and international corporations

Foreign property

Germany

Insurance industry and regulation

Oil and gas

Pipelines

Russia

Sanctions

Turkey

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2020-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-06-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Protecting Europe's Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020</b></p> <p>This bill expands existing sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in certain activities relating to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream energy pipelines. </p> <p>Current law generally imposes visa- and property-blocking sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that knowingly took actions such as selling or leasing vessels that engaged in pipe laying related to the pipelines. Under this bill, the President shall also impose sanctions on foreign individuals and entities that engage in other specified activities, such as (1) providing underwriting services or insurance for such vessels, (2) installing welding equipment for such vessels, or (3) providing testing or inspection services for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. </p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3897 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 4, 2020 Mr. Cruz (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Cotton , and Mr. Johnson ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To clarify and expand sanctions applicable with respect to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 or TurkStream pipeline projects.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020 . 2. Clarification and expansion of sanctions relating to construction of Nord Stream 2 or TurkStream pipeline projects (a) In general Subsection (a)(1) of section 7503 of the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019 (title LXXV of Public Law 116–92 ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or pipe-laying activities after pipe-laying ; and (2) in subparagraph (B)— (A) in clause (i)— (i) by striking sold, leased, or provided and inserting facilitated selling, leasing, or providing ; and (ii) by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (B) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (iii) provided underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance for those vessels; (iv) provided services or facilities for technology upgrades or installation of welding equipment for, or retrofitting or tethering of, those vessels; or (v) provided services for the testing, inspection, or certification necessary for, or associated with the operation of, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. . (b) Definitions Subsection (i) of such section is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) Pipe-laying activities The term pipe-laying activities means activities that facilitate pipe-laying, including site preparation, trenching, surveying, placing rocks, stringing, bending, welding, coating, lowering of pipe, and backfilling. . (c) Effective date (1) In general The amendments made by this section take effect on the date of the enactment of the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019. (2) Report required Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, as defined in subsection (i) of section 7503 of the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019, a report on the matters required by subsection (a) of that section, as amended by this section, for the period beginning on the date of the enactment of that Act and ending on the date on which the report is submitted.