Kinzinger’s bill would penalize pipeline-laying vessels working with Russia

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) on June 11 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would slap sanctions on any vessels involved in constructing Russian energy export pipelines.

“The United States must stand with our allies and protect our own national security by pushing back on these power grabs by Russia,” Rep. Kinzinger said on Tuesday.

The congressman introduced the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019, H.R. 3206, with U.S. Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), which his office said would namely sanction vessels associated with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a multinational project totransport natural gas into the European Union to enhance security of supply, support climate goals and strengthen the internal energy market.

On the Senate side, the same-named S. 1441 companion bill was introduced on May 14 by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

“For years, Russia has tried to use energy dependence as a means to put undue political influence on our European allies,” explained Rep. Kinzinger. “Through intimidation and coercion, Vladimir Putin has weaponized natural gas across the region.”

He said continuation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline could pose both further danger to millions of Europeans, as well as global security risks.

“This is why our legislation is so important,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “H.R. 3206 would impose specific sanctions to stop construction and completion of the Nord Stream 2 project.”

If enacted, H.R. 3206 would authorize the U.S. president to impose sanctions – which would include asset blocking or revoked U.S. visas and other documents – on anyone who “sells, leases, or provides pipe-laying vessels for the construction of any Russian-origin energy export pipeline that makes landfall in Germany or Turkey,” according to the text of the bill.

H.R. 3206 is being reviewed by the U.S. House Judiciary and the U.S. House Foreign Affairs committees.