[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1221 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 118
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1221

   To counter the influence of the Russian Federation in Europe and 
                    Eurasia, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2017

 Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                              June 6, 2017

                Reported by Mr. Corker, with amendments
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To counter the influence of the Russian Federation in Europe and 
                    Eurasia, 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 ``Countering Russian Influence in 
Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Government of the Russian Federation has sought to 
        exert influence throughout Europe and Eurasia, including in the 
        former states of the Soviet Union, by providing resources to 
        political parties, think tanks, and civil society groups that 
        sow distrust in democratic institutions and actors, promote 
        xenophobic and illiberal views, and otherwise undermine 
        European unity. The Government of the Russian Federation has 
        also engaged in well-documented corruption practices as a means 
        toward undermining and buying influence in European and 
        Eurasian countries.
            (2) The Government of the Russian Federation has largely 
        eliminated a once-vibrant Russian-language independent media 
        sector and severely curtails free and independent media within 
        the borders of the Russian Federation. Russian-language media 
        organizations that are funded and controlled by the Government 
        of the Russian Federation and disseminate information within 
        and outside of the Russian Federation routinely traffic in 
        anti-Western disinformation, while few independent, fact-based 
        media sources provide objective reporting for Russian-speaking 
        audiences inside or outside of the Russian Federation.
            (3) The Government of the Russian Federation continues to 
        violate its commitments under the Memorandum on Security 
        Assurances in connection with Ukraine's Accession to the Treaty 
        on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Budapest 
        December 5, 1994, and the Conference on Security and Co-
        operation in Europe Final Act, concluded at Helsinki August 1, 
        1975 (commonly referred to as the ``Helsinki Final Act''), 
        which laid the groundwork for the establishment of the 
        Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, of which 
        the Russian Federation is a member, by its illegal annexation 
        of Crimea in 2014, its illegal occupation of South Ossetia and 
        Abkhazia in Georgia in 2008, and its ongoing destabilizing 
        activities in eastern Ukraine.
            (4) The Government of the Russian Federation continues to 
        ignore the terms of the August 2008 ceasefire agreement 
        relating to Georgia, which requires the withdrawal of Russian 
        Federation troops, free access by humanitarian groups to the 
        regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and monitoring of the 
        conflict areas by the European Union Monitoring Mission.
            (5) The Government of the Russian Federation is failing to 
        comply with the terms of the Minsk Agreement to address the 
        ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, signed in Minsk, Belarus, 
        on February 11, 2015, by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, 
        France, and Germany, as well as the Minsk Protocol, which was 
        agreed to on September 5, 2014.
            (6) The Government of the Russian Federation is--
                    (A) in violation of the Treaty between the United 
                States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist 
                Republics on the Elimination of their Intermediate-
                Range and Shorter-Range Missiles, signed at Washington 
                December 8, 1987, and entered into force June 1, 1988 
                (commonly known as the ``INF Treaty''); and
                    (B) failing to meet its obligations under the 
                Treaty on Open Skies, done at Helsinki March 24, 1992, 
                and entered into force January 1, 2002 (commonly known 
                as the ``Open Skies Treaty'').

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of the Russian Federation bears 
        responsibility for the continuing violence in Eastern Ukraine, 
        including the death on April 24, 2017, of Joseph Stone, a 
        citizen of the United States working as a monitor for the 
        Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe;
            (2) the President should call on the Government of the 
        Russian Federation--
                    (A) to withdraw all of its forces from the 
                territories of Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova;
                    (B) to return control of the borders of those 
                territories to their respective governments; and
                    (C) to cease all efforts to undermine the popularly 
                elected governments of those countries;
            (3) the Government of the Russian Federation has applied, 
        and continues to apply, to the countries and peoples of Georgia 
        and Ukraine, traditional uses of force, intelligence 
        operations, and influence campaigns, which represent clear and 
        present threats to the countries of Europe and Eurasia;
            (4) in response, the countries of Europe and Eurasia should 
        redouble efforts to build resilience within their institutions, 
        political systems, and civil societies;
            (5) the United States supports the institutions that the 
        Government of the Russian Federation seeks to undermine, 
        including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the 
        European Union;
            (6) a strong North Atlantic Treaty Organization is critical 
        to maintaining peace and security in Europe and Eurasia;
            (7) the United States should continue to work with the 
        European Union as a partner against aggression by the 
        Government of the Russian Federation, coordinating aid 
        programs, development assistance, and other counter-Russian 
        efforts;
            (8) the United States should encourage the establishment of 
        a commission for media freedom within the Council of Europe, 
        modeled on the Venice Commission regarding rule of law issues, 
        that would be chartered to provide governments with expert 
        recommendations on maintaining legal and regulatory regimes 
        supportive of free and independent media and an informed 
        citizenry able to distinguish between fact-based reporting, 
        opinion, and disinformation;
            (9) in addition to working to strengthen the North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization and the European Union, the United States 
        should work with the individual countries of Europe and 
        Eurasia--
                    (A) to identify vulnerabilities to aggression, 
                disinformation, corruption, and so-called hybrid 
                warfare by the Government of the Russian Federation;
                    (B) to establish strategic and technical plans for 
                addressing those vulnerabilities;
                    (C) to ensure that the financial systems of those 
                countries are not being used to shield illicit 
                financial activity by officials of the Government of 
                the Russian Federation or individuals in President 
                Vladimir Putin's inner circle who have been enriched 
                through corruption;
                    (D) to investigate and prosecute cases of 
                corruption by Russian actors; and
                    (E) to work toward full compliance with the 
                Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public 
                Officials in International Business Transactions 
                (commonly referred to as the ``Anti-Bribery 
                Convention'') of the Organization for Economic Co-
                operation and Development; and
            (10) the President of the United States should use the 
        authority of the President to impose sanctions under--
                    (A) the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability 
                Act of 2012 (title IV of Public Law 112-208; 22 U.S.C. 
                5811 note); and
                    (B) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights 
                Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of Public 
                Law 114-328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note).

SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    The United States, consistent with the principle of ex injuria jus 
non oritur, supports the policy known as the ``Stimson Doctrine'' and 
thus does not recognize territorial changes effected by force, 
including the illegal invasions and occupations of Abkhazia, South 
Ossetia, Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, and Transnistria.

SEC. 5. COORDINATING AID AND ASSISTANCE ACROSS EUROPE AND EURASIA.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for the Countering Russian Influence Fund $250,000,000 for 
fiscal years 2018 and 2019.
<DELETED>    (b) Management of the Fund.--Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development and, as appropriate, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, and the 
Secretary of Defense, shall establish a working group to administer the 
Countering Russian Influence Fund in order to facilitate the 
achievement of the goals described in subsection (c) while minimizing 
the expense to United States taxpayers.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Use of Funds.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Mandatory use of funds.--Amounts in the 
        Countering Russian Influence Fund shall be used for the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) To assist in protecting critical 
                infrastructure and electoral mechanisms from 
                cyberattacks in the following countries:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) Countries that are members of 
                        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the 
                        European Union that the Secretary of State 
                        determines--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) are vulnerable to 
                                influence by the Russian Federation; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) lack the economic 
                                capability to effectively respond to 
                                aggression by the Russian Federation 
                                without the support of the United 
                                States.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) Countries that are 
                        participating in the enlargement process of the 
                        North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the 
                        European Union, including Albania, Bosnia and 
                        Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, 
                        Kosovo, Serbia, and Ukraine.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) To combat corruption, improve the rule 
                of law, and otherwise strengthen independent 
                judiciaries and prosecutors general offices in the 
                countries described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Discretionary use of funds.--Amounts in the 
        Countering Russian Influence Fund may be used to seek to 
        achieve the following, to the extent practicable and as 
        appropriate:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Responding to the humanitarian crises 
                and instability caused or aggravated by the invasions 
                and occupations of Georgia and Ukraine by the Russian 
                Federation.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Improving participatory legislative 
                processes and legal education, political transparency 
                and competition, and compliance with international 
                obligations in the countries described in paragraph 
                (1)(A).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Building the capacity of civil 
                society, media, and other nongovernmental organizations 
                countering the influence and propaganda of the Russian 
                Federation in the countries described in paragraph 
                (1)(A).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Implementation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary of State, acting 
        through Coordinator of United States Assistance to Europe and 
        Eurasia (authorized pursuant to section 601 of the Support for 
        East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (22 U.S.C. 5461) and 
        section 102 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian 
        Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 
        5812)), shall coordinate efforts to implement the goals 
        described in subsection (c) and establish metrics relating to 
        efforts to achieve those goals.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Report on implementation.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Not later than April 1 of 
                each year, the Secretary of State, acting through the 
                Coordinator of United States Assistance to Europe and 
                Eurasia, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
                committees a report on the programs and activities 
                carried out to achieve the goals described in 
                subsection (c) during the preceding fiscal 
                year.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Elements.--Each report required by 
                subparagraph (A) shall include, with respect to each 
                program or activity described in that subparagraph--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the amount of funding for the 
                        program or activity;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the goal described in 
                        subsection (c) to which the program or activity 
                        relates; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) an assessment of whether or 
                        not the goal was met.</DELETED>
    (b) Use of Funds.--Amounts in the Countering Russian Influence Fund 
shall be used for the following:
            (1) To assist in protecting critical infrastructure and 
        electoral mechanisms from cyberattacks in the following 
        countries:
                    (A) Countries that are members of the North 
                Atlantic Treaty Organization or the European Union that 
                the Secretary of State determines--
                            (i) are vulnerable to influence by the 
                        Russian Federation; and
                            (ii) lack the economic capability to 
                        effectively respond to aggression by the 
                        Russian Federation without the support of the 
                        United States.
                    (B) Countries that are participating in the 
                enlargement process of the North Atlantic Treaty 
                Organization or the European Union, including Albania, 
                Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, 
                Kosovo, Serbia, and Ukraine.
            (2) To combat corruption, improve the rule of law, and 
        otherwise strengthen independent judiciaries and prosecutors 
        general offices in the countries described in paragraph (1).
            (3) To respond to the humanitarian crises and instability 
        caused or aggravated by the invasions and occupations of 
        Georgia and Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
            (4) To improve participatory legislative processes and 
        legal education, political transparency and competition, and 
        compliance with international obligations in the countries 
        described in paragraph (1).
            (5) To build the capacity and resilience of civil society, 
        media, and other nongovernmental organizations in countering 
        the influence and propaganda of the Russian Federation in such 
        countries.
            (6) To support the efforts of independent media outlets and 
        public broadcasters to broadcast, distribute, and share 
        information in all regions in such countries.
            (7) To support objective, Russian-language, independent 
        media, investigative journalism, and civil society watchdog 
        groups working to combat corruption in such countries and 
        encourage cooperation with social media entities to strengthen 
        the integrity of information on the Internet.
            (8) To promote and protect Internet freedom and information 
        security in such countries.
            (9) To support research and analysis on the effects of 
        information warfare on target audiences and best practices for 
        promoting resilience.
            (10) To assist the Secretary of State in executing the 
        functions specified in section 1287(b) of the National Defense 
        Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328) for 
        the purposes of recognizing, understanding, exposing, and 
        countering propaganda and disinformation efforts by foreign 
        governments.
    (c) Implementation.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall, acting 
        through the Coordinator of United States Assistance to Europe 
        and Eurasia (authorized pursuant to section 601 of the Support 
        for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (22 U.S.C. 5461) 
        and section 102 of the Freedom for Russia and Emerging Eurasian 
        Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of 1992 (22 U.S.C. 
        5812)) and in consultation with the Administrator for the 
        United States Agency for International Development, the 
        Director of the Global Engagement Center of the Department of 
        State, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the 
        Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the heads of other 
        relevant Federal agencies, coordinate and carry out activities 
        described in subsection (b).
            (2) Method.--The activities described in subsection (b) 
        shall be carried out through--
                    (A) initiatives of the United States Government;
                    (B) Federal grant programs such as the Information 
                Access Fund; or
                    (C) nongovernmental or international organizations, 
                such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation 
                in Europe, the National Endowment for Democracy, the 
                Black Sea Trust, the Balkan Trust for Democracy, the 
                Prague Civil Society Centre, the North Atlantic Treaty 
                Organization Strategic Communications Centre of 
                Excellence, the European Endowment for Democracy, and 
                related organizations.
            (3) Report on implementation.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than April 1 of each 
                year, the Secretary of State, acting through the 
                Coordinator of United States Assistance to Europe and 
                Eurasia, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
                committees a report on the programs and activities 
                carried out to achieve the goals described in 
                subsection (b) during the preceding fiscal year.
                    (B) Elements.--Each report required by subparagraph 
                (A) shall include, with respect to each program or 
                activity described in that subparagraph--
                            (i) the amount of funding for the program 
                        or activity;
                            (ii) the goal described in subsection (b) 
                        to which the program or activity relates; and
                            (iii) an assessment of whether or not the 
                        goal was met.
    (e)(d) Coordination With Global Partners.--
            (1) In general.--In order to maximize cost efficiency, 
        eliminate duplication, and speed the achievement of the goals 
        described in subsection (c) (b), the working group established 
        under subsection (b) the Secretary of State shall ensure 
        coordination with--
                    (A) the European Union and its institutions;
                    (B) the governments of countries that are members 
                of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the 
                European Union; and
                    (C) international organizations and quasi-
                governmental funding entities that carry out programs 
                and activities that seek to accomplish the goals 
                described in subsection (c) (b).
            (2) Report by secretary of state.--Not later than April 1 
        of each year, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
                    (A) the amount of funding provided to each country 
                referred to in subsection (c) (b) by--
                            (i) the European Union or its institutions;
                            (ii) the government of each country that is 
                        a member of the European Union or the North 
                        Atlantic Treaty Organization; and
                            (iii) international organizations and 
                        quasi-governmental funding entities that carry 
                        out programs and activities that seek to 
                        accomplish the goals described in subsection 
                        (c) (b); and
                    (B) an assessment of whether the funding described 
                in subparagraph (A) is commensurate with funding 
                provided by the United States for those goals.
    (f)(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to apply to or limit United States foreign assistance not 
provided using amounts available in the Countering Russian Influence 
Fund.
    (f) Ensuring Adequate Staffing for Governance Activities.--In order 
to ensure that the United States Government is properly focused on 
combating corruption, improving rule of law, and building the capacity 
of civil society, media, and other nongovernmental organizations in 
countries described in subsection (b)(1), the Secretary of State shall 
establish a pilot program for Foreign Service officer positions focused 
on governance and anticorruption activities in such countries.

SEC. 6. REPORT ON MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS CONTROLLED AND FUNDED BY THE 
              GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
includes a description of media organizations that are controlled and 
funded by the Government of the Russian Federation, and any affiliated 
entities, whether operating within or outside the Russian Federation, 
including broadcast and satellite-based television, radio, Internet, 
and print media organizations.
    (b) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON RUSSIAN FEDERATION INFLUENCE ON ELECTIONS IN EUROPE 
              AND EURASIA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on funds 
provided by, or funds the use of which was directed by, the Government 
of the Russian Federation or any Russian person with the intention of 
influencing the outcome of any election or campaign in any country in 
Europe or Eurasia during the preceding year, including through direct 
support to any political party, candidate, lobbying campaign, 
nongovernmental organization, or civic organization.
    (b) Form of Report.--Each report required by subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
    (c) Russian Person Defined.--In this section, the term ``Russian 
person'' means--
            (1) an individual who is a citizen or national of the 
        Russian Federation; or
            (2) an entity organized under the laws of the Russian 
        Federation or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the 
        Government of the Russian Federation.

SEC. 8. UKRANIAN ENERGY SECURITY.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to support the Government of Ukraine in restoring its 
        sovereign and territorial integrity;
            (2) to condemn and oppose all of the destabilizing efforts 
        by the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine in 
        violation of its obligations and international commitments;
            (3) to never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by 
        the Government of the Russian Federation or the separation of 
        any portion of Ukrainian territory through the use of military 
        force;
            (4) to deter the Government of the Russian Federation from 
        further destabilizing and invading Ukraine and other 
        independent countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the 
        Caucuses;
            (5) to assist in promoting reform in regulatory oversight 
        and operations in Ukraine's energy sector, including the 
        establishment and empowerment of an independent regulatory 
        organization;
            (6) to encourage and support fair competition, market 
        liberalization, and reliability in Ukraine's energy sector;
            (7) to help Ukraine and United States allies and partners 
        in Europe reduce their dependence on Russian energy resources, 
        especially natural gas, which the Government of the Russian 
        Federation uses as a weapon to coerce, intimidate, and 
        influence other countries;
            (8) to work with European Union member states and European 
        Union institutions to promote energy security through 
        developing diversified and liberalized energy markets that 
        provide diversified sources, suppliers, and routes;
            (9) to continue to oppose the NordStream 2 pipeline given 
        its detrimental impacts on the European Union's energy 
        security, gas market development in Central and Eastern Europe, 
        and energy reforms in Ukraine; and
            (10) that the United States Government should prioritize 
        the export of United States energy resources in order to create 
        American jobs, help United States allies and partners, and 
        strengthen United States foreign policy.
    (b) Plan to Promote Energy Security in Ukraine.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State, in coordination 
        with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development and the Secretary of Energy, shall 
        work with the Government of Ukraine to develop a plan to 
        increase energy security in Ukraine, increase the amount of 
        energy produced in Ukraine, and reduce Ukraine's reliance on 
        energy imports from the Russian Federation.
            (2) Elements.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall 
        include strategies for market liberalization, effective 
        regulation and oversight, supply diversification, energy 
        reliability, and energy efficiency, such as through 
        supporting--
                    (A) the promotion of advanced technology and modern 
                operating practices in Ukraine's oil and gas sector;
                    (B) modern geophysical and meteorological survey 
                work as needed followed by international tenders to 
                help attract qualified investment into exploration and 
                development of areas with untapped resources in 
                Ukraine;
                    (C) a broadening of Ukraine's electric power 
                transmission interconnection with Europe;
                    (D) the strengthening of Ukraine's capability to 
                maintain electric power grid stability and reliability;
                    (E) independent regulatory oversight and operations 
                of Ukraine's gas market and electricity sector;
                    (F) the implementation of primary gas law including 
                pricing, tariff structure, and legal regulatory 
                implementation;
                    (G) privatization of government owned energy 
                companies through credible legal frameworks and a 
                transparent process compliant with international best 
                practices;
                    (H) procurement and transport of emergency fuel 
                supplies, including reverse pipeline flows from Europe;
                    (I) provision of technical assistance for crisis 
                planning, crisis response, and public outreach;
                    (J) repair of infrastructure to enable the 
                transport of fuel supplies;
                    (K) repair of power generating or power 
                transmission equipment or facilities; and
                    (L) improved building energy efficiency and other 
                measures designed to reduce energy demand in Ukraine.
            (3) Reports.--
                    (A) Implementation of ukraine freedom support act 
                of 2014 provisions.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                State shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
                committees a report detailing the status of 
                implementing the provisions required under section 7(c) 
                of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 (Public Law 
                113-272), including detailing the plans required under 
                that section, the level of funding that has been 
                allocated to and expended for the strategies set forth 
                under that section, and progress that has been made in 
                implementing the strategies developed pursuant to that 
                section.
                    (B) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days 
                thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
                appropriate congressional committees a report detailing 
                the plan developed under paragraph (1), the level of 
                funding that has been allocated to and expended for the 
                strategies set forth in paragraph (2), and progress 
                that has been made in implementing the strategies.
                    (C) Briefings.--The Secretary of State, or a 
                designee of the Secretary, shall brief the appropriate 
                congressional committees not later than 30 days after 
                the submission of each report under subparagraph (B). 
                In addition, the Department of State shall make 
                relevant officials available upon request to brief the 
                appropriate congressional committees on all available 
                information that relates directly or indirectly to 
                Ukraine or energy security in Eastern Europe.
                    (D) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--
                In this paragraph, the term ``appropriate congressional 
                committees'' means--
                            (i) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
                        the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
                        and
                            (ii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                        the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                        Representatives.
    (c) Supporting Efforts of Countries in Europe and Eurasia to 
Decrease Their Dependence on Russian Sources of Energy.--
            (1) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
                    (A) The Government of the Russian Federation uses 
                its strong position in the energy sector as leverage to 
                manipulate the internal politics and foreign relations 
                of the countries of Europe and Eurasia.
                    (B) This influence is based not only on the Russian 
                Federation's oil and natural gas resources, but also on 
                its state-owned nuclear power and electricity 
                companies.
            (2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) the United States should assist the efforts of 
                the countries of Europe and Eurasia to enhance their 
                energy security through diversification of energy 
                supplies in order to lessen dependencies on Russian 
                Federation energy resources and state-owned entities; 
                and
                    (B) the Export-Import Bank of the United States and 
                the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should play 
                key roles in supporting critical energy projects that 
                contribute to that goal.
            (3) Use of countering russian influence fund to provide 
        technical assistance.--Amounts in the Countering Russian 
        Influence Fund pursuant to section 5 shall be used to provide 
        technical advice to countries described in subsection (b)(1) of 
        such section designed to enhance energy security and lessen 
        dependence on energy from Russian Federation sources.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Department of State a total of $30,000,000 for 
fiscal years 2018 and 2019 to carry out the strategies set forth in 
subsection (b)(2) and other activities under this section related to 
the promotion of energy security in Ukraine.
    (e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed as affecting the responsibilities required and authorities 
provided under section 7 of the Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014 
(Public Law 113-272).

SEC. 79. TERMINATION.

    The provisions of this Act shall terminate on the date that is 5 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 810. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.

    In Except as otherwise provided, in this Act, the term 
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Armed 
        Services, the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
        Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select 
        Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
        Financial Services, the Committee on Armed Services, the 
        Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on 
        Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on 
        Intelligence of the House of Representatives.
                                                       Calendar No. 118

115th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1221

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To counter the influence of the Russian Federation in Europe and 
                    Eurasia, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              June 6, 2017

                        Reported with amendments