WASHINGTON, DC– Last week, Congressmen Bill Keating, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment, and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, introduced H.R. 1616, the European Energy Security and Diversification Act, to help the United States and Europe attain greater global energy security by diversifying energy sources and supply routes throughout the region.
“Russia has long weaponized its grip on energy throughout Europe,”said Congressman Keating. “In the face of growing threats to our security and that of our allies, we need to stand together as part of a strong and unified coalition. This bill is a major step forward in helping our European partners lessen Russian influence over the energy sector while also fostering EU-US cooperation, private investment, and low-carbon pathways. Winning solutions for our allies, our economies, and our climate are available, and this bipartisan, bicameral legislation works to advance them.”
“The United States is the world’s top energy producer, where American oil output has more than doubled over the last ten years. We know that the Russian Federation has long used energy as a weapon to coerce, manipulate, and create conflict among European governments. This legislation would help our European partners develop and diversify their own energy sources, which would increase their own security and defend against the malign activities of the Kremlin,”said Congressman Kinzinger.“We have an opportunity to support our allies, and with U.S. diplomatic, political, and technical support, we can stop Russia from using energy as a means to threaten the security of our European partners. Thank you to my colleagues in the House and Senate for joining me in this effort to increase global energy security.”
This legislation would authorize financing for private sector investments in Europe and Eurasia to develop alternative sources of energy – including from renewable energy – in order to promote greater European independence from Russian energy sources.
“I am working to advance this legislation at the Committee’s markup on Thursday,”said Congressman Keating.“And I want to thank my friend, Senator Chris Murphy, for initially taking the lead on this bill in the Senate.”
Congressmen Keating and Kinzinger were joined by their fellow House Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) as original co-sponsors of this legislation.
The Senate companion bill to H.R. 1616 was also introduced last week by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD).