Text of Senate Amendment 5974

On 2026-06-23, Senator Christopher A. Coons (D-DE) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 5974" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 5974

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3111-S3113] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5974. Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Ricketts) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title XII, add the following: Subtitle F--Energy Security Pacts Act SEC. 1281. SHORT TITLE. This subtitle may be cited as the ``Energy Security Pacts Act''. SEC. 1282. DEFINITIONS. In this subtitle: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Council agency.--The term ``council agency'' means a department, agency, or organization described in section 1286(c). (3) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral'' means any mineral on the list of critical minerals required by section 7002(c)(3) of the Energy Act of 2020 (30 U.S.C. 1606(c)(3)) on or after January 1, 2026. (4) Director for energy security pacts.--The term ``Director for Energy Security Pacts'' means the Director for Energy Security Pacts described in section 1284. (5) Energy security pact.--The term ``Energy Security Pact'' means an Energy Security Pact described in section 1283. (6) Energy security pacts council.--The term ``Energy Security Pacts Council'' means the Energy Security Pacts Council established under section 1286. (7) Partner country.--The term ``partner country'' means a country eligible for participation in an Energy Security Pact. (8) Reliable access to energy or electricity.--The term ``reliable access to energy or electricity'' means access to energy or electricity that enables the electric system to consistently meet demand through a combination of generation, forecasting, storage, and grid management tools available across all resources and technologies. (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State. (10) Senior united states government official.--The term ``senior United States Government official'' means-- (A) any individual serving in a position at level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code; and (B) any individual serving as a presidential special envoy. (11) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. SEC. 1283. AUTHORITY FOR ENERGY SECURITY PACTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary may carry out an initiative to establish multiyear agreements, to be known as ``Energy Security Pacts'', with partner countries for the purpose of enhancing the energy and economic security and stability of the United States and partner countries, including through efforts to counter economic coercion through the diversification of critical mineral and energy supply chains. (b) Assistance for the Development and Implementation of Pacts.--The Director for Energy Security Pacts may-- (1) enter into contracts for required technical support related to Energy Security Pacts; (2) make grants to partner countries that meet eligibility requirements for United States foreign assistance for the purpose of building the administrative or technical capacity necessary to facilitate the development and implementation of an Energy Security Pact between the United States and such country; and (3) lead Country Pact Teams, in accordance with section 1284(c), to carry out the implementation of Energy Security Pacts. (c) Limitations and Conditions.-- (1) Prohibition on military assistance and training.-- Assistance under this section may not include military assistance or military training for a country. (2) Condition on assistance relating to american competitiveness or production displacement.--Prior to funding a project pursuant to an Energy Security Pact, the Secretary, in consultation with other relevant departments and agencies, should conduct an assessment on whether the proposed project would undermine the competitiveness or displace production of relevant domestic suppliers. (3) Prohibition on assistance relating to environmental, health, or safety hazards.--Assistance under this section may not be provided for any project that is likely to cause a significant environmental, health, or safety hazard. (4) Foreign aid transparency and accountability act compliance.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this subtitle may be obligated or expended for an Energy Security Pact unless the Secretary complies with the requirements of section 4 of the Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 2394c) with respect to the Pact and all activities associated with the Pact. (5) Prohibition on assistance for certain entities.--None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this subtitle may be obligated or expended to provide any grant, contract, or other financial assistance to an entity in which a senior United States Government official or an immediate family member (as defined in section 1128(j) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-7(j))) of such official holds any ownership interest or serves in any managerial, officer, director, or board capacity. (6) Other prohibition.--Assistance under this section may not be used in any manner otherwise prohibited by any provision of law. SEC. 1284. DIRECTOR OF ENERGY SECURITY PACTS. (a) Director for Energy Security Pacts.-- (1) In general.--The activities described in this subtitle may be led by a Director for Energy Security Pacts, who may be-- (A) appointed by the Secretary; and (B) responsible-- (i) to the Under Secretary for all matters pertaining to the administration and implementation of Energy Security Pacts; and (ii) for such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. (2) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities described in paragraph (1), the Director for Energy Security Pacts should be responsible for supporting the coordination and implementation of the Energy Security Pacts Council, including for matters pertaining to the following: (A) Leading the development, negotiation, and management of Energy Security Pacts. (B) Consulting and coordinating with council agencies to develop prospective Energy Security Pacts and implement ongoing Energy Security Pacts, as appropriate. (C) Serving as the recipient for-- (i) solicited proposals under Energy Security Pacts; and (ii) unsolicited proposals for projects to be considered for inclusion in any Energy Security Pact by national, regional, and local governments and private corporations. (D) Signing interagency agreements from departments, agencies, or independent establishments of the United States Government on behalf of the Department of State (with the consent of the head of such department, agency, or establishment) for the purpose of developing, implementing, or otherwise participating in an Energy Security Pact. [[Page S3112]] (E) Coordinating with other donor entities, including countries that are allies and partners of the United States, the Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement of the Department of State, and other multilateral fora, for purposes of deconflicting, augmenting, and leveraging, as appropriate, Energy Security Pact workplans with the development and financing activities performed by others. (3) Annual report required.--Not less frequently than annually until the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director for Energy Security Pacts shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the Executive Office of the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary a report describing-- (A) the current status and expenditures of activities authorized under this subtitle; (B) any obstacles to the implementation of such activities; and (C) any updates to the multiyear financial plan developed pursuant to section 1285(d)(G). (b) Country Pact Teams.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Under Secretary and relevant Federal departments and agencies, may designate a Country Pact Team for each Energy Security Pact. (2) Leadership; duties.--Each Country Pact Team shall-- (A) be led by the Director for Energy Security Pacts, who may regularly engage with the Energy Security Pacts Council on matters related to the Energy Security Pact; and (B) manage the day-to-day activities related to the development, negotiation, implementation, and monitoring of the Pact. (c) Personnel.-- (1) In general.--The Under Secretary or the Under Secretary's designee may-- (A) upon request from the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, detail staff, on a reimbursable basis, to heads of council agencies with relevant sectoral, financial, or regional expertise for the express purpose of supporting the negotiation or implementation of an Energy Security Pact; (B) request from the heads of council agencies the detail of personnel to the Director of Energy Security Pacts with relevant sectoral, financial, or regional expertise, on a reimbursable basis, for the express purpose of supporting the negotiation or implementation of an Energy Security Pact; and (C) appoint, without regard to the provisions of sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, United States Code, candidates directly to positions in the competitive service, as defined in