The U.S. Senate on Jan. 13 failed to pass a bill to slap sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a day after Democrats unveiled their own legislation.
The tally was 55 in favor and 44 against the bill that needed 60 votes to pass, a major hurdle in the 50-50 Senate. The vote spanned nearly seven hours as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer considered options on voting rights legislation.
Senator Robert Menendez won the support of many of his fellow Democrats, including President Joe Biden, for an alternative bill he introduced on Jan. 12. His legislation would impose sweeping sanctions on top Russian government and military officials and banking institutions if Moscow engages in hostilities against Ukraine.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat who had originally co-sponsored Nord Stream 2 sanctions legislation with Cruz, voted against his bill saying it risked breaking unity in Washington and in Europe over Russian aggression against Ukraine.
She said Cruz’s legislation would “drive a wedge” between the U.S. and its allies, particularly Germany.
The U.S., as well as some European countries including Ukraine and Poland, oppose the pipeline, which would deprive Kyiv of transit fees as well as increase Moscow’s leverage over Europe, where gas prices have been soaring.
Cruz said the vote showed a Senate majority supports fast action on the pipeline which is touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and led by state energy company Gazprom.
“Only immediately imposing sanctions can change Putin’s calculation, stop a Ukrainian invasion, and lift the existential threat posed by Nord Stream 2,” Cruz said.
A handful of Democrats, including Senators Tammy Baldwin, Mark Kelly and Raphael Warnock, supported the Cruz bill which would have put sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG, the company building the project, within 15 days of passage. Cruz’s bill would have also allowed Congress to vote to overturn any waiver of sanctions by the president.
The Menendez bill, which does not yet have a date for a vote, would put sanctions on the pipeline, and Russian officials and entities after any aggression on Ukraine by Moscow.
The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline would send Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to Europe via Germany. It was completed late last year but is pending approvals by Germany and the EU that may not come until the middle of the year.
Recommended Reading
Diamondback to Sell $2.2B in Shares Held by Endeavor Stockholders
2024-09-20 - Diamondback Energy, which closed its $26 billion merger with Endeavor Energy Resources on Sept. 13, said the gross proceeds from the share’s sale will be approximately $2.2 billion.
Optimizing Direct Air Capture Similar to Recovering Spilled Wine
2024-09-20 - Direct air capture technologies are technically and financially challenging, but efforts are underway to change that.
Analyst: Is Jerry Jones Making a Run to Take Comstock Private?
2024-09-20 - After buying more than 13.4 million Comstock shares in August, analysts wonder if Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might split the tackles and run downhill toward a go-private buyout of the Haynesville Shale gas producer.
Matador Offers $750 Million in Senior Notes Following Ameredev Deal
2024-09-20 - Matador Resources will offer $750 million in senior notes following the close of its $1.83 billion Ameredev II acquisition.
Aethon, Murphy Refinance Debt as Fed Slashes Interest Rates
2024-09-20 - The E&Ps expect to issue new notes toward redeeming a combined $1.6 billion of existing debt, while the debt-pricing guide—the Fed funds rate—was cut on Sept. 18 from 5.5% to 5%.
Comments
Add new comment
This conversation is moderated according to Hart Energy community rules. Please read the rules before joining the discussion. If you’re experiencing any technical problems, please contact our customer care team.