Senate rejects Sen. Ted Cruz’s bill to impose sanctions over Russian pipeline project
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/...c514_story.html
By Felicia Sonmez and Seung Min Kim
Yesterday at 9:52 p.m. EST


The Senate on Thursday rejected a bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) that would impose sanctions on those responsible for the construction of a new Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline.

The bill’s failure amounts to an endorsement of President Biden’s approach to countering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s expanding influence in Europe.

The new pipeline, Nord Stream 2, is entirely owned by Russian energy company Gazprom, a majority of which is owned by the Russian government. The pipeline has already been completed but is not yet running because it has not received German regulatory approval.

The White House said Thursday it strongly opposed Cruz’s measure, which it argued “would only serve to undermine unity amongst our European allies at a crucial moment when we need to present a unified front in response to Russian threats against Ukraine.”

Cruz had held up White House appointments before being promised a floor vote on his Russia sanctions bill.

“The Administration does not believe this bill is a genuine effort to counter Russian aggression or protect Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement.-- excerpt, rest at link above --