Cruz legislation targeting Russian pipeline moves ahead

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle by  James Osborne July 31, 2019

Legislation sanctioning construction companies that help complete a controversial Russian pipeline delivering natural gas to Europe cleared a critical legislative hurdle Wednesday.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bill, sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., in an effort to limit Russian influence in Europe at a time Moscow is working to interfere in elections there and in the United States.

“[Vladimir] Putin gets his revenues for military adventurism directly from petro-billions flowing into the country,” Cruz said. “This bill is exceptionally important as a matter of national security.”

The vote comes as Russian gas giant Gazprom is nearing completion on its more than 750-mile long Nord Stream 2 project, according to Russian media reports. But Cruz and his allies in the Senate maintain deep-water work left to be done in the Baltic Sea can still be stopped.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Cruz-legislation-targetting-Russian-pipeline-14270048.php

[Fishrrman]

OK... all you "free market" briefers jump in and explain to a dunderhead like me.

Russia has natural gas it wants to market.
Western Europe NEEDS a source of gas.

The pipeline represents "free trade" between Russia and Western European customers.

Why is Mr. Cruz trying to obstruct such trade?