Includes Barrasso’s USE IT Act, Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill, and key Air Force provisions for Wyoming

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement regarding Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, or NDAA.

“The National Defense Authorization Act is essential to keeping Americans safe. This bipartisan investment in our country gives our troops a hard-earned raise and state-of-the-art equipment. The defense bill includes significant funding for critical projects at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

“It also reinforces our deterrent against an emboldened China and Russia. The bill includes legislation I’ve championed to expand U.S. sanctions on companies involved in installing Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. These sanctions will help stop this pipeline and eliminate this Russian geopolitical weapon.

“The NDAA will ensure a smart and strong defense, while supporting innovation to protect the environment and grow the economy. The legislation incorporates my Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act, which will help develop commercial uses for captured carbon.

“The NDAA will maintain America’s dominance in a dangerous world.”

Key provisions for Wyoming:

• Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Minuteman III ICBM Replacement Program – $1.5 billion.
• UH-1N Helicopter Replacement Program Air Force Security Forces – $194 million.

Nord Steam 2 Pipeline:

• Barrasso co-sponsored legislation that clarifies and expands U.S. sanctions related to Nord Stream 2, applying them to vessels engaged in all pipe-laying activities.
• The sanctions were also extended to those facilitating or providing vessels, insurance, port facilities, or tethering services for those vessels, and ultimately to any company providing certification for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to begin operations.

Background on the USE IT Act:

• Barrasso introduced the USE IT Act with several bipartisan cosponsors.
• The bill would support carbon utilization and direct air capture research.
• The bill would also support federal, state, and non-governmental collaboration in the construction and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) facilities and carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines.

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