U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) recently signed on as a cosponsor of a bipartisan bill that would bolster America’s natural gas production in order to reduce global dependence on Russian energy sources.
“Now that Nord Stream 2 sanctions are in place, the U.S. needs to up its game on liquefied natural gas exports,” Sen. Wicker said. “Our European friends should be getting their energy supply from the United States and other allies, not Russian tyrants and kleptocrats.”
The senator on Feb. 14 joined as a cosponsor of the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act of 2021, S. 819, which would enhance the security of the United States and its allies by providing countries that are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with U.S.-produced natural gas, according to the text of the bill.
“I am glad to join this effort to fortify NATO against the Russian threat and unlock the enormous potential of America’s bountiful natural resources,” said Sen. Wicker.
S. 819 was sponsored in March 2021 by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and 16 original GOP cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Sen. Wicker, along with U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), cosponsored the bill on Feb. 14.
If enacted, S. 819 also would direct the U.S. permanent representative to NATO to work with NATO member states to address energy security for the organization’s members and partners in Europe and Eurasia, and call for a comprehensive U.S. government transatlantic energy strategy focused on increasing the energy security of NATO allies and partners, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Wicker’s office.
The bill awaits action by the U.S. Senate on Foreign Relations Committee.