Senate Rejects Nord Stream 2 Bill
A bill that would have imposed sanctions on companies associated with the Russia-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline was rejected by the Senate Jan. 13 after it failed to garner the necessary 60 votes to pass. The bill, introduced in December by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex. (see 2201110059), faced strong opposition from the White House, which said before the vote that the bill would “only serve to undermine unity amongst our European allies,” including Germany (see 2201110059).
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Although the bill earlier this month appeared to have strong bipartisan support, the administration this week convinced many Democrats to vote against the bill and instead back separate legislation from Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. That bill, introduced this week, would impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia’s financial, energy and mineral sectors if Russia further invades Ukraine (see 2201120036).
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who originally supported Cruz’s bill, said she changed her mind after speaking with the White House. “We're in a different place on this,” Shaheen said before the vote. “What Senator Cruz's bill would do is not stop Nord Stream 2, it would undermine the current diplomatic situation that is absolutely critical If we are going to respond to the Russian threat.”