Congresswoman Miller Re-Introduces Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act
March 1, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as the co-founder of the Energy Export Caucus, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R- WV) re-introduced the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act in the House of Representatives. She was joined by Congressional Energy Export Caucus co-chairs Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX). Companion legislation was reintroduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) in the United States Senate.
This bipartisan legislation focuses on expanding American energy exports to NATO allies to improve energy security and reduce the reliance on Russian energy. This bill also mandates sanctions on all Russian pipelines, such as the now defunct Nord Stream 2, which was signed into law in the National Defense Authorization Act. These sanctions were not enforced by the Biden Administration, which allowed Russia to weaponize their energy against our allies and fund their war machine. The ESCAPE Act requires the Secretary of Energy to expedite natural gas exports to our NATO allies.
"Energy security is national security and focusing on the expansion of American energy exports will prevent NATO’s dependence on unreliable energy from our adversaries,” said Congresswoman Miller. “This legislation reaffirms our commitment to providing more efficient energy to our allies and secures our ability to be energy independent and dominant which will reduce fear and concerns over Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.”
This bipartisan legislation focuses on expanding American energy exports to NATO allies to improve energy security and reduce the reliance on Russian energy. This bill also mandates sanctions on all Russian pipelines, such as the now defunct Nord Stream 2, which was signed into law in the National Defense Authorization Act. These sanctions were not enforced by the Biden Administration, which allowed Russia to weaponize their energy against our allies and fund their war machine. The ESCAPE Act requires the Secretary of Energy to expedite natural gas exports to our NATO allies.
"Energy security is national security and focusing on the expansion of American energy exports will prevent NATO’s dependence on unreliable energy from our adversaries,” said Congresswoman Miller. “This legislation reaffirms our commitment to providing more efficient energy to our allies and secures our ability to be energy independent and dominant which will reduce fear and concerns over Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.”
"Our NATO allies' reliance on Russian energy has imperiled Europe's economy and security, creating a dangerous geopolitical crisis that must be addressed," said Congressman Arrington. "The ESCAPE Act would expand American energy exports to our allies, empowering them to push back against Putin's chokehold on energy resources and access safe, reliable energy from America."
“The ESCAPE Act will enable us to continue supporting our NATO allies with critical energy while reducing their reliance on Russia,” said Congressman Cuellar. “I thank my Congressional Energy Export Caucus colleagues, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV-1) and Congressman Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19), and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) for working with me to ensure energy security for our NATO members and partners in Europe.”
“In light of Russia’s year-long invasion of Ukraine, it is more important than ever to provide energy security to our allies in Europe. Putin continues to use Europe’s dependence on Russian energy as a geopolitical weapon to coerce and pressure our allies,” said Senator Barrasso. “The ESCAPE Act takes away Putin’s leverage through expanding American natural gas exports. The United States can help our allies obtain reliable American energy and loosen Putin’s political grip on the region.”
Full text of the legislation can be found here.“In light of Russia’s year-long invasion of Ukraine, it is more important than ever to provide energy security to our allies in Europe. Putin continues to use Europe’s dependence on Russian energy as a geopolitical weapon to coerce and pressure our allies,” said Senator Barrasso. “The ESCAPE Act takes away Putin’s leverage through expanding American natural gas exports. The United States can help our allies obtain reliable American energy and loosen Putin’s political grip on the region.”
Background:
As energy prices have risen in the last year due to the war in Ukraine, Russia weaponized their energy and cut off all gas supplies to Europe in response to economic sanctions imposed by the West. Countries in Southern and Eastern Europe rely on Russian Energy and import about 40% of all consumed energy, with one third of it coming from a Russian owned energy company, Gazprom.
American natural gas production has also grown substantially since 2018 and is now equipped to provide significant amounts of energy to Europe and the rest of the world. The U.S. also produces much cleaner natural gas than Russia. If American energy were to replace Russian energy in the European Union, global greenhouse gas emissions would fall by 72 million metric tons each year.
While the war in Ukraine has recently emphasized the need for energy security for allies in Europe, Congresswoman Miller has long supported energy export solutions in Congress. In 2021, Congresswoman Miller as co-chair of the Congressional Energy Export Caucus, led 49 of her colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to then German Chancellor Angela Merkel advocating for increased energy cooperation between the United States, Germany, and all European allies. Signed by fellow Congressional Energy Export Caucus co-chairs, the letter also cautions against European reliance on Russian energy.
During the 116th Congress, the ESCAPE Act passed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 17, 2019 and has been previously introduced in 2021.
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