Womack Statement on President Biden's Decision to Waive Nord Stream 2 Sanctions, Greenlight Putin Pipeline

Statement

Washington, DC--May 19, 2021....Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the following statement regarding the Biden Administration's decision to waive sanctions on the company overseeing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a Russian-backed project that will allow Putin to weaponize the European energy supply and exert undue pressure on our allies:

Congressman Womack said, "This decision is a gift to Vladimir Putin. Every person should be wondering why President Biden is willing to kill American pipelines and jobs, but advance Russia's interests. It's a pro-Kremlin stance, and this weakness invites further aggression. The last thing our nation and allies need is for Moscow to have a tighter grip on the global energy market."

Background: The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a Russian-backed project that will now go forward without delay and allow the Kremlin undue influence on the European energy supply. Womack is committed to stopping the construction of this Putin pet project. He is an original cosponsor of the Protecting Europe's Energy Security Clarification Act of 2020, legislation that clarifies and expands sanctions on the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was included in and signed into law as part of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2021. The Biden Administration invoked a national security waiver in order to avoid placing new sanctions on the company constructing the pipeline and its CEO, a former East German Communist spy. This waiver authority is part of the original Protecting Europe's Energy Security Act of 2019, which was included in the NDAA for FY 2020. The waiver acknowledges that the Biden Administration is fully aware of sanctionable behavior by the entities but is waiving the sanctions in an attempt to appease the Russian Federation.
Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas's Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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