"The Senate plans to vote this week on Republican legislation to enact new, crippling sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project from Russia to Germany.

The vote stems from a deal between Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in December, which made way for the confirmation of dozens of President Biden’s ambassador nominees (E&E Daily, Dec. 20, 2021).

Cruz and other Republicans had been delaying quick passage on the president’s picks to protest the White House’s decision earlier last year to waive congressionally mandated sanctions against Nord Stream. The president wanted to reset relations with Germany and said the pipeline was nearly complete.

The big question this week is whether Democrats — most of whom oppose Nord Stream just as much as Republicans — will vote to approve new sanctions or side with the White House. Passage would require 60 yes votes."

Manuel Quiñones and Nick Sobczyk report for E&E News January 10, 2022. [2]