; and (B) to increase exports of energy from the United States to such countries. (2) Appropriate congressional committees defined In this subsection, the term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives. 5. Expedited approval of exportation of natural gas to United States allies (a) In general Section 3(c) of the Natural Gas Act ( 15 U.S.C. 717b(c) ) is amended— (1) by inserting (1) before For purposes ; (2) by striking nation with which there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas and inserting foreign country described in paragraph (2) ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (2) A foreign country described in this paragraph is— (A) a nation with which there is in effect a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for trade in natural gas; (B) a member country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; (C) subject to paragraph (3), Japan; and (D) any other foreign country if the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, determines that exportation of natural gas to that foreign country would promote the national security interests of the United States. (3) The exportation of natural gas to Japan shall be deemed to be consistent with the public interest pursuant to paragraph (1), and applications for such exportation shall be granted without modification or delay under that paragraph, during only such period as the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, signed at Washington January 19, 1960, and entered into force June 23, 1960 (11 UST 1632