H.R. 7873

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7873 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7873

To promote the energy security of Taiwan, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2026

Mr. Harrigan (for himself, Mr. Olszewski, and Mr. Lawler) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To promote the energy security of Taiwan, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-
Embargo Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Taiwan is a vital democratic partner the energy 
security of which is critical to the strategic interests of the 
United States in the Indo-Pacific region.
(2) Enhancing Taiwan's energy resilience through 
diversified and reliable sources reduces vulnerability to 
coercion, disruption, or attack by authoritarian regimes.
(3) The United States possesses abundant supplies of energy 
resources, technologies, and expertise that support economic 
growth, job creation, and the national security interests of 
the United States.
(4) Promoting United States energy exports to and 
partnerships with Taiwan aligns with United States energy 
diplomacy objectives, strengthens bilateral economic and 
security ties, and contributes to regional stability.
(5) Taiwan's energy infrastructure, including electric grid 
systems and liquefied natural gas import facilities, is 
vulnerable to asymmetric and kinetic threats from the People's 
Republic of China.
(6) Supporting Taiwan's efforts to improve the resilience 
and security of its energy infrastructure advances deterrence 
and promotes continuity of government operations in the event 
of a crisis.
(7) In 2024, the United States exported 212,837,000,000 
cubic feet of liquefied natural gas to the People's Republic of 
China and 118,162,000,000 cubic feet of liquefied natural gas 
to Taiwan. That export imbalance indicates that the United 
States could help meet Taiwan's needs for liquefied natural gas 
by redirecting a portion of exports of liquefied natural gas 
currently destined for the People's Republic of China to 
Taiwan, assuming sufficient import and storage capacity in 
Taiwan.

SEC. 3. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENERGY EXPORTS AND ENERGY 
INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE FOR TAIWAN.

The Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (22 U.S.C. 3351 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``PART 8--PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENERGY EXPORTS AND ENERGY 
INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE FOR TAIWAN

``SEC. 5540A. DEFINITIONS.

``In this part:
``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
``(2) Asymmetric threat.--The term `asymmetric threat' 
means a threat posed by unconventional means, including a 
cyberattack, sabotage, or economic coercion, designed to 
undermine or disrupt the operation of critical infrastructure.

``SEC. 5540B. PROMOTION OF UNITED STATES ENERGY EXPORTS TO TAIWAN.

``(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy, may prioritize 
efforts to support and facilitate--
``(1) United States energy exports to Taiwan; and
``(2) the development of energy projects that diversify 
Taiwan's energy sources.
``(b) Activities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretaries 
may--
``(1) engage with United States liquefied natural gas 
producers, exporters, and infrastructure entities to identify 
and address barriers to liquefied natural gas exports and 
storage projects intended for the market of Taiwan;
``(2) facilitate coordination between United States private 
sector entities, relevant governing authorities, and private 
sector stakeholders in Taiwan, including to promote investment 
in energy projects in Taiwan and the export of United States 
technologies to Taiwan;
``(3) provide diplomatic and technical support for 
liquefied natural gas exports, exports of other United States 
energy resources and technologies, and storage and related 
infrastructure for any relevant energy projects linked to 
Taiwan;
``(4) consult with Taiwan to assess and strengthen 
liquefied natural gas import and storage capabilities; and
``(5) coordinate interagency efforts to ensure cohesive and 
sustained United States support for Taiwan's energy security.
``(c) Assessment Required.--Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 
2026, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees an assessment of--
``(1) potential opportunities for boosting exports of 
liquefied natural gas produced in the United States to Taiwan, 
including by redirecting exports of such gas that flow to the 
People's Republic of China as of such date of enactment;
``(2) potential ways the United States could shift the flow 
of such exports toward Taiwan; and
``(3) potential ways the United States could support 
efforts to redirect such exports to Taiwan.

``SEC. 5540C. ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE CAPACITY BUILDING.

``(a) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026, 
the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Energy, may seek to engage with appropriate 
officials of Taiwan for the purpose of cooperating with the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defense, 
and the head of any other applicable ministry of Taiwan for capacity 
building to enhance energy infrastructure resilience, including 
defensive military cybersecurity activities.
``(b) Identification of Activities.--In carrying out subsection 
(a), the Secretary of State may identify cooperative activities--
``(1) to enhance cybersecurity programs to protect grid 
operating systems, liquefied natural gas and other energy 
storage terminals, and supervisory control and data acquisition 
systems;
``(2) to support physical security improvements, 
operational redundancy, and continuity-of-operations planning;
``(3) to engage in joint training exercises and scenario-
based planning with relevant agencies in Taiwan; and
``(4) to support workforce development, emergency response 
planning, and institutional modernization of energy sector 
operators.
``(c) United States-Taiwan Energy Security Center.--The Secretary 
of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, may establish a 
joint United States-Taiwan Energy Security Center in the United States, 
leveraging the expertise of institutions of higher education and 
private sector entities to foster dialogue and collaboration for 
academic cooperation in energy security and resilience.
``(d) Authorization of Assistance.--The Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy, 
may provide technical assistance to support the activities described in 
subsection (b) or the center described in subsection (c).
``(e) Implementation.--
``(1) In general.--Assistance under this section shall be 
provided through the American Institute in Taiwan and in 
consultation with relevant authorities in Taiwan, consistent 
with the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.).
``(2) Notification.--Any assistance provided by the 
Department of State pursuant this section shall be subject to 
the regular notification requirements of section 634A of the 
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394-1).
``(f) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026, 
the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Energy, shall provide to the appropriate 
congressional committees a briefing on the implementation of this 
section.

``SEC. 5540D. ANNUAL REPORT.

``(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act of 2026, 
and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, 
and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that--
``(1) describes actions taken under this part;
``(2) identifies barriers to--
``(A) increased United States energy exports to 
Taiwan;
``(B) increased investment in Taiwan's energy 
sector that would strengthen Taiwan's energy 
resilience;
``(C) energy infrastructure security cooperation; 
and
``(D) enhancing the resilience of Taiwan's energy 
supply against economic coercion and supply chain 
disruptions, with due consideration for national 
security implications;
``(3) evaluates the effectiveness of capacity building and 
technical assistance activities carried out under section 
5540C; and
``(4) provides recommendations to expand and diversify 
Taiwan's energy sources and improve future bilateral energy 
cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
``(b) Form.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.''.

SEC. 4. TRAINING TO IMPROVE TAIWAN'S CRITICAL ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE 
PROTECTION.

Section 5504(a)(3) of the Taiwan Enhanced Resilience Act (22 U.S.C. 
3353(a)(3)) is amended by inserting after ``capabilities'' the 
following: ``and critical energy infrastructure protection''.

SEC. 5. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TAIWAN'S USE OF 
NUCLEAR ENERGY.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, 
nuclear energy--
(A) is the second safest source of energy;
(B) is one of only 2 clean energies that offer non-
stop baseload power required for sustainable economic 
growth and improved human welfare; and
(C) when compared with other sources of electricity 
from cradle to grave, has the lowest carbon footprint, 
uses fewer materials, and takes up less land.
(2) A nuclear fuel assembly lasts up to 6 years, making 
supply more resistant to maritime disruption.
(3) Taiwan has built a robust civilian nuclear capability 
over previous decades that has shown the potential to provide 
clean, reliable power to Taiwan.
(4) On May 17, 2025, the Maanshan-2, Taiwan's last 
operating nuclear power plant, was shut down after its 40-year 
operating license expired.
(5) There are compelling economic and security reasons to 
evaluate placing existing infrastructure back in service to 
ensure Taiwan has clean, reliable power that is more resilient 
in a contingency.
(6) As a result of Taiwan's substantial use of energy in 
industrial manufacturing and production, and emerging energy 
requirements for electrification, artificial intelligence, and 
data center support, there is considerable benefit for Taiwan 
to evaluate new small modular reactors technology to augment 
its energy capacity and resilience.
(7) As Taiwan modernizes its military, the power demand 
from command-and-control systems, intelligence platforms, drone 
operations, and joint battlespace integration will continue to 
increase.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) it is in the interests of both the United States and 
Taiwan for Taiwan--
(A) to maintain nuclear power as an energy source; 
and
(B) to utilize new nuclear technologies, including 
Gen III+ nuclear reactors and small modular reactor 
technology; and
(2) the United States should prioritize assistance and 
cooperation with Taiwan on nuclear energy to improve technology 
exports and job creation in the United States and energy 
security and resilience in Taiwan.

SEC. 6. INSURANCE FOR VESSELS TRANSPORTING VITAL GOODS TO STRATEGIC 
PARTNERS.

Section 53902 of title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``(d) Vessels Transporting Vital Goods to Strategic Partners.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation may 
provide insurance and reinsurance under this chapter for any 
vessel engaged in commerce transporting critical energy, 
humanitarian, or other goods to Taiwan or another strategic 
partner of the United States that is facing coercive maritime 
threats if the Secretary determines, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director 
of National Intelligence, that providing such insurance or 
reinsurance is necessary to support vital strategic commerce or 
to deter coercive maritime behavior that undermines regional 
security.
``(2) Nonapplicability of certain condition.--The condition 
under section 53902(c) shall not apply with respect to a vessel 
described in paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING CONTINUED UNITED STATES POLICY 
TOWARD TAIWAN AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC 
OF CHINA.

Nothing in this Act may be construed as a change to the One China 
Policy of the United States, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations 
Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the three United States-People's Republic 
of China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances.
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