,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fchd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #af1 #bjah,mr4 ,huffman introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,financial ,services1 ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 the ,judiciary1 and ,ways and ,means1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to impose sanctions relating to persons operating the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,countering ,russian ,power ,plays ,act4 #b4 ,imposition of sanctions with respect to ,nord ,stream #b 7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 should stand by its allies in ,europe in combating ,russian influence and energy coercion2 7#b7 opposes the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline because of its detrimental impacts on-- 7,a7 the energy security of the ,european ,union2 7,b7 the ability of the ,european ,union to meet its renewable energy goals2 and 7,c7 energy reforms in ,ukraine2 7#c7 has a vested interest in the security1 economic stability1 and political security of ,ukraine1 and that reducing gas transfers through ,ukraine by means of the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline would risk destabilizing that country2 and 7#d7 notwithstanding its opposition to the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline1 recognizes the ,european ,union's proper and fundamental need to secure diverse1 reliable energy sources1 for which the purchase of ,russian gas may be an unavoidable component4 7b7 ,sanctions imposed ,subject to subsection 7d71 the ,president shall impose five or more sanctions described in section #bce of the ,countering ,america's ,adversaries ,through ,sanctions ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #iebi7 with respect to each person described in subsection 7c74 7c7 ,persons described ,the persons described in this subsection are each person the ,president determines-- 7#a7 operates the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline or sells ,russian gas to ,europe through the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline2 or 7#b7 engages in a significant transaction with the ,nord ,stream #b pipeline4 7d7 ,conditions2 delayed application 7#a7 ,conditions ,the ,president shall impose sanctions with respect to persons described in subsection 7c77#a7 only if the ,president determines that-- 7,a7 average ,russian gas flows through ,ukraine to ,europe over a period of #ab consecutive months beginning after the date of the enactment of this ,act are less than #ge percent of the average annual ,russian gas flows through ,europe via ,ukraine during the three-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this ,act2 7,b7 ,ukraine maintained a reasonable standard of operation of gas pipelines during such #ab-month period2 7,c7 ,ukraine has not raised transit fees by more than five percent in such #ab-month period2 and 7,d7 there is no other good cause justifying for the reduction of gas flows through ,ukraine during such #ab-month period4 7#b7 ,delayed application ,the ,president may not impose sanctions with respect to a person described in subsection 7c77#b7 before the date that is #ahj days after the ,president imposes sanctions with respect to any person described in subsection 7c77#a74 #c4 ,united ,states-,european ,union energy council 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states-,european ,union ,energy ,council 7,council7 was established in #bjji to deepen coordination on transatlantic energy matters1 including research and development cooperation4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary of ,state co-chairs the ,council with the ,secretary of ,energy for the ,united ,states4 ,the ,high ,representative for ,external ,affairs and the ,vice ,president for ,energy ,union and ,commissioner for ,energy and ,climate serve as co-chairs for the ,european ,union4 7#c7 ,the ,council provides a high-level1 bilateral method to address energy issues1 including means to develop alternatives to ,russian-supplied gas in ,europe1 in order to promote ,european security4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,secretary of ,state and the ,secretary of ,energy should convene1 in coordination with the ,european ,union co-chairs1 a meeting of the ,council on an annual basis1 and that the next such meeting should occur not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,report on energy support strategy ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,energy1 shall submit to ,congress a report on the comprehensive strategy of the ,united ,states to support ,european energy security that also includes an analysis of each of the following3 7#a7 ,energy supplies that could be provided by the ,united ,states or other allies to ,european countries4 7#b7 ,steps to reduce ,european reliance on ,russian energy sources4 7#c7 ,methods to accelerate emerging energy sources or related technologies4 7#d7 ,potential industrial partnerships1 international financing arrangements1 and trade agreements to bolster ,european energy security4 7#e7 ,legal and political considerations that could unnecessarily hinder the ,united ,states or allied countries from supporting ,european energy needs4