9th District Congressman Bill Keating
WASHINGTON, DC – The European Energy Security and Diversification Act passed the US House of Representatives Monday night with bipartisan support.
Congressmen Bill Keating, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment, and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, introduced the legislation to help the United States and Europe attain greater global energy security by diversifying energy sources and supply routes throughout the region.
“Passage of this bill is a great step forward toward countering Russia’s weaponization of energy access throughout Europe,” said Keating.
“Not only will it lessen Russian influence over the energy sector, it also fosters EU-US cooperation, private investment, and low-carbon pathways. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation works to advance positive solutions for our allies, our economies, and our climate. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure passage there so it goes to the President’s desk for signature as soon as possible.”
This legislation would authorize financing for private sector investments in Europe and Eurasia to develop alternative sources of energy – including from renewable energy – in order to promote greater European independence from Russian energy sources.
Congressmen Keating and Kinzinger were joined by their fellow House Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues, Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) as original co-sponsors of this legislation.
The Senate companion bill to H.R. 1616 was introduced by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD).
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