#aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #afaf ,,an ,,act ,to prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among ,united ,states agencies to encourage countries in ,europe and ,eurasia to diversify their energy sources and supply routes1 increase energy security in the region1 and help the ,united ,states reach its global energy security goals1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,european ,energy ,security and ,diversification ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,early-stage project support ,the term early-stage project support includes the following3 7,a7 ,feasibility studies4 7,b7 ,resource evaluations4 7,c7 ,project appraisal and costing4 7,d7 ,pilot projects4 7,e7 ,commercial support1 such as trade missions1 reverse trade missions1 technical workshops1 international buyer programs1 and international partner searchers to link suppliers to projects4 7,f7 ,technical assistance and other guidance to improve the local regulatory environment and market frameworks to encourage transparent competition and enhance energy security4 7,g7 ,long-term energy sector planning4 7#b7 ,late-stage project support ,the term late-stage project support includes support described in section #adba of the ,better ,utilization of ,investments ,leading to ,development ,act of #bjah 7also referred to as the ,,build ,act of #bjah2 enacted as division ,f of the ,,faa ,reauthorization ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-bed774 7#c7 ,international financial institution ,the term international financial institution has the meaning given such term in section #agja7;c7 of the ,international ,financial ,institutions ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfbr7c774 #c4 ,sense of ,congress2 statement of policy 7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states has economic and national security interests in assisting ,european and ,eurasian countries achieve energy security through diversification of their energy sources and supply routes4 7b7 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to-- 7#a7 advance ,united ,states foreign policy and development goals by assisting ,european and ,eurasian countries to reduce their dependence on energy resources from countries that use energy dependence for undue political influence1 such as the ,russian ,federation1 which has used natural gas to coerce1 intimidate1 and influence other countries2 7#b7 promote the energy security of ,european and ,eurasian allies and partners of the ,united ,states by encouraging the development of accessible1 transparent1 and competitive energy markets that provide diversified sources1 types1 and routes of energy2 7#c7 encourage ,united ,states public and private sector investment in ,european and ,eurasian energy infrastructure projects to bridge the gap between energy security requirements and commercial demand in a way that is consistent with the region's absorptive capacity2 7#d7 help facilitate a well-functioning market for energy resources in a way that benefits the energy security of the ,united ,states and ,european and ,eurasian allies and partners of the ,united ,states2 and 7#e7 help facilitate the export of ,united ,states energy technology and expertise to global markets4 #d4 ,prioritization of efforts and assistance for energy infrastructure projects in ,europe and ,eurasia 7a7 ,in general ,in pursuing the policy described in section #c7;b71 the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the heads of ,united ,states agencies that operate under the foreign policy guidance of the ,secretary1 shall1 as appropriate1 prioritize and expedite the efforts of the ,department of ,state and such agencies in supporting the efforts of the ,european ,commission and ,european and ,eurasian countries to increase the energy security of such countries1 including through-- 7#a7 providing diplomatic and political support to the ,european ,commission and such countries1 as necessary to-- 7,a7 facilitate international negotiations concerning cross-border infrastructure2 7,b7 enhance ,europe's and ,eurasia's regulatory environment with respect to energy2 and 7,c7 develop accessible1 transparent1 and competitive energy markets supplied by diverse sources1 types1 and routes of energy2 and 7#b7 providing support to improve ,european and ,eurasian energy markets1 including early-stage project support and late-stage project support for the construction or improvement of energy infrastructure1 as necessary1 to-- 7,a7 diversify the energy sources and supply routes of such countries2 7,b7 enhance energy market integration across the region2 and 7,c7 increase competition within energy markets4 7b7 ,project selection 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in consultation with the heads of agencies described in subsection 7a71 shall identify and1 in accordance with paragraph 7#c71 select energy infrastructure projects that would be appropriate for ,united ,states assistance under this section4 7#b7 ,project eligibility ,a project is eligible for ,united ,states assistance under this section if such project is-- 7,a7 related to-- 7i7 natural gas infrastructure1 such as interconnectors1 storage facilities1 liquefied natural gas import facilities1 or reverse flow capacity2 7ii7 electricity transmission infrastructure1 electricity storage projects1 or smart grid projects2 7iii7 renewable energy projects in wind1 solar1 tidal1 or other forms2 or 7iv7 the improvement1 rehabilitation1 or construction of electricity generation facilities to increase the efficiency and reliability of electricity production2 and 7,b7 located in a ,european or ,eurasian country4 7#c7 ,preference ,in selecting among projects that are eligible under paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary of ,state and the heads of agencies described in subsection 7a7 shall give preference to projects that-- 7,a7 improve the capacity of energy systems to efficiently transfer gas and electricity within and between ,european or ,eurasian countries2 7,b7 have already been identified by the ,european ,commission as being integral for the energy security of ,european or ,eurasian countries2 7,c7 are expected to enhance energy market integration and transparency2 7,d7 can attract funding from the private sector1 an international financial institution1 the government of the country in which the project will be carried out1 or the ,european ,commission2 or 7,e7 have the potential to use ,united ,states goods and services4 7c7 ,types of assistance 7#a7 ,diplomatic and political support ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the heads of agencies described in subsection 7a71 as appropriate1 shall provide diplomatic and political support to the ,european ,commission and ,european or ,eurasian countries1 as necessary1 including by using the diplomatic and political influence and expertise of the ,department of ,state to build the capacity of such countries to resolve any impediments to the development of projects selected under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,early-stage project support ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination1 as appropriate1 with the heads of agencies described in subsection 7a71 including the ,director of the ,trade and ,development ,agency1 shall provide early-stage project support to projects selected under subsection 7b71 as necessary and in accordance with section #ffa of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bdba74 7#c7 ,late-stage project support ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination1 as appropriate1 with the heads of agencies described in subsection 7a71 shall provide late-stage project support to projects selected under subsection 7b71 as necessary and in accordance with section #adab of the ,better ,utilization of ,investments ,leading to ,development ,act 7relating to the establishment of the ,united ,states ,international ,development ,finance ,corporation74 7d7 ,funding 7#a7 ,trade and development agency ,subparagraph 7,a7 of section #ffa7;f77#a7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bdba7;f77#a77 is amended by striking #dh1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjjj and inserting #gi1ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 7#b7 ,countering ,russian influence fund ,section #bed of the ,countering ,russian ,influence in ,europe and ,eurasia ,act of #bjag 7enacted as title ,,ii of the ,countering ,america's ,adversaries ,through ,sanctions ,act2 ,public ,law #aae-dd2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #iedc7 is amended-- 7,a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking fiscal years #bjah and #bjai and adding fiscal years #bjbj and #bjba2 and 7,b7 in subsection 7b71 by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#g7 ,to assist ,united ,states agencies that operate under the foreign policy guidance of the ,secretary of ,state in providing assistance under section #d of the ,european ,energy ,security and ,diversification ,act of #bjai4 4 7e7 ,exception ,no ,united ,states assistance under this section may be provided to a ,european or ,eurasian country that engages in a significant transaction described in subsection 7a7 of section #bca of the ,countering ,america's ,adversaries ,through ,sanctions ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #iebe74 #e4 ,progress reports ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this ,act and annually thereafter for seven years1 the ,president shall transmit to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on progress made in providing assistance for projects under section #d that includes the following3 7#a7 ,a description of the energy infrastructure projects the ,united ,states has identified for such assistance4 7#b7 ,for each such project1 the following3 7,a7 ,a description of the role of the ,united ,states in the project1 including in early-stage project support and late-stage project support4 7,b7 ,the amount and form of any debt financing and insurance provided by the ,united ,states ,government for the project4 7,c7 ,the amount and form of any early-stage project support4 7,d7 ,an update on the progress made on the project as of the date of the report4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,march #be1 #bjai4;,clerk4