Reps. Kinzinger, Heck Secure Critical Legislative Measure to Combat Russian Aggression in 2020 Defense Bill

Statement

Today, Congressmen Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Denny Heck (D-WA) applauded the agreement reached by the House and Senate on the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes legislation that imposes sanctions to counter Russian efforts to construct and/or complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This critical legislative measure was authored and introduced by Rep. Kinzinger and co-sponsored by Reps. Heck and Greg Pence (R-IN).

On the inclusion of their energy security legislation in the final NDAA package, Congressmen Kinzinger and Heck released these statements:

"With a crumbling economy and a failing governance, Russia has long tried to use energy dependence as a means to intimidate and coerce our European allies. The continuation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project poses heavy security risks for millions of Europeans, and the world, and it needs to be stopped," said Congressman Kinzinger. "I'm proud to see my bill H.R. 3206, which imposes specific sanctions to stop construction and completion of the pipeline, be included in the 2020 NDAA text, showing Congress's support for our allies and our own national security against Russia's power grabs."

"Over the past few months, Congress and the American people have become acutely aware of the challenges that Ukraine faces as it continues its struggle to cast off the yoke of Russian oppression," said Congressman Heck. "The Nord Stream 2 pipeline threatens Ukraine's very survival as a country--and the project is nearly complete. I am pleased that Congress has decided to intervene to stop the construction of this pipeline and frustrate Putin's plans for regional domination."

The Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act (H.R. 3206) was introduced in June 2019 and the text can be found here. On the Senate side, a companion bill was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Tom Cotton (R-AR), which can be found here.

A vocal critic of Russia's malign activity in using energy as a weapon, Congressman Kinzinger is committed tType out your tags...o advancing America's energy production and ensuring our allies around the world are protected from the aggressive, coercive Putin regime.

As such, in March 2019, Congressman Kinzinger introduced H.R. 1616, the European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019, to incentivize European nations to develop their own domestic energy sources and minimize the role Putin plays in the region. In line with that legislation, Congressman Kinzinger joined Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) last month in introducing a bipartisan resolution in support of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) to increase connectivity between the partnership of these 12 Central and Eastern European nations while also reducing their reliance on Russia for their own energy needs.

NOTE: The Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act is included as Title LXXV of the FY 2020 NDAA and is expected to pass Congress, and be signed into law before the end of the year.

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