WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) voted to mandate sanctions on the Kremlin-owned Nord Stream 2 AG, the company responsible for building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The legislation would impose sanctions within 15 days of the bill becoming law. Despite a bipartisan majority in favor of the bill, Senate Democrats blocked the legislation.

“Nord Stream 2 is bad for our national security and bad for our environment. The pipeline erodes our allies’ geopolitical strength and transports Vladimir Putin's dirty natural gas which emits 41% more greenhouse gas emissions than American natural gas. American energy is cleaner and can help meet Europe’s energy demands. Russia must be kept in check and greenlighting this massive pipeline project does the exact opposite,” said Senator Cramer. “It's disappointing to see my Democrat colleagues give Putin this gift and reverse their previously-held position based on who is in the White House.”  

Earlier this year the Biden Administration published a plan to allow the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to be completed without fear of action from the United States, a move Senator Cramer described as “a slap in the face for U.S. energy producers and our NATO allies.” 

The senator is leading the Protecting Our Well-being by Expanding Russian Sanctions (POWERS) Act, a bill to reinstate and expand the sanctions the Biden Administration is waiving on Russian people and entities involved in the construction of the pipeline. Learn more here