[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 598 Engrossed in House (EH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 598
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of
Georgia, 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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Georgia Support
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. United States policy.
TITLE I--ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
Sec. 101. United States-Georgia security assistance.
Sec. 102. United States cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia.
Sec. 103. Enhanced assistance to combat Russian disinformation and
propaganda.
Sec. 104. Sense of Congress on free trade agreement with Georgia.
TITLE II--SANCTIONS PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Imposition of sanctions on persons complicit in or
responsible for serious human rights
abuses, including right to life in Georgian
regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/
South Ossetia occupied by Russia.
TITLE III--DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS
Sec. 301. Determination of budgetary effects.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to--
(1) support continued development of democratic values in
Georgia, including free and fair elections, public sector
transparency and accountability, the rule of law, and
anticorruption efforts;
(2) support Georgia's sovereignty, independence, and
territorial integrity within its internationally recognized
borders;
(3) support the right of the people of Georgia to freely
determine their future and make independent and sovereign
choices on foreign and security policy, including regarding
their country's relationship with other nations and
international organizations, without interference,
intimidation, or coercion by other countries;
(4) support Georgia's Euro-Atlantic and European
integration;
(5) not recognize territorial changes effected by force,
including the illegal invasions and occupations of Georgian
regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia by the
Russian Federation;
(6) condemn ongoing detentions, kidnappings, and other
human rights violations committed in the Georgian regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly occupied
by the Russian Federation, including the recent killings of
Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, and
Davit Basharuli; and
(7) support peaceful conflict resolution in Georgia,
including by urging the Russian Federation to fully implement
the European Union-mediated ceasefire agreement of August 12,
2008, and supporting the establishment of international
security mechanisms in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and
Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and the safe and dignified
return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, all
of which are important for lasting peace and security on the
ground.
TITLE I--ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
SEC. 101. UNITED STATES-GEORGIA SECURITY ASSISTANCE.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) In fiscal year 2018, the United States provided Georgia
with $2,200,000 in assistance under chapter 5 of part II of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2347 et seq.;
relating to international military education and training) and
$35,000,000 in assistance under section 23 of the Arms Export
Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763; relating to the Foreign Military
Financing Program).
(2) Georgia has been a longstanding NATO-aspirant country.
(3) Georgia has contributed substantially to Euro-Atlantic
peace and security through participation in the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Resolute Support Missions
in Afghanistan as one of the largest troop contributors.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that United
States assistance to Georgia under chapter 5 of part II of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 and section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act
should be increased.
(c) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States, in consultation with Georgia, to enhance Georgia's deterrence,
resilience, and self-defense, including through appropriate assistance
to improve the capabilities of Georgia's armed forces.
(d) Review of Security Assistance to Georgia.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the heads of other appropriate United States
departments and agencies, shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report reviewing
United States security assistance to Georgia.
(2) Components.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A detailed review of all United States security
assistance to Georgia from fiscal year 2008 to the date
of the submission of such report.
(B) An assessment of threats to Georgian
independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
(C) An assessment of Georgia's capabilities to
defend itself, including a 5-year strategy to enhance
Georgia's deterrence, resilience, and self-defense
capabilities.
(3) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
SEC. 102. UNITED STATES CYBERSECURITY COOPERATION WITH GEORGIA.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
Secretary of State should take the following actions, commensurate with
United States interests, to assist Georgia to improve its
cybersecurity:
(1) Provide Georgia such support as may be necessary to
secure government computer networks from malicious cyber
intrusions, particularly such networks that defend the critical
infrastructure of Georgia.
(2) Provide Georgia support in reducing reliance on Russian
information and communications technology.
(3) Assist Georgia to build its capacity, expand
cybersecurity information sharing, and cooperate on
international cyberspace efforts.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on United States
cybersecurity cooperation with Georgia. Such report shall also include
information relating to the following:
(1) United States efforts to strengthen Georgia's ability
to prevent, mitigate, and respond to cyber incidents, including
through training, education, technical assistance, capacity
building, and cybersecurity risk management strategies.
(2) The potential for new areas of collaboration and mutual
assistance between the United States and Georgia to address
shared cyber challenges, including cybercrime, critical
infrastructure protection, and resilience against automated,
distributed threats.
(3) NATO's efforts to help Georgia develop technical
capabilities to counter cyber threats.
SEC. 103. ENHANCED ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION AND
PROPAGANDA.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States to enhance the capabilities of Georgia to combat Russian
disinformation and propaganda campaigns intended to undermine the
sovereignty and democratic institutions of Georgia, while promoting the
freedom of the press.
(b) Required Strategy.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the heads of other appropriate United States
departments and agencies, shall submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report outlining
a strategy to implement the policy described in subsection (a).
(2) Components.--The report required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
(A) A detailed assessment of Russian disinformation
and propaganda efforts across all media platforms
targeting Georgia.
(B) An assessment of Georgia's capabilities to
deter and combat such Russian efforts and to support
the freedom of the press.
(C) A detailed strategy coordinated across all
relevant United States departments and agencies to
enhance Georgia's capabilities to deter and combat such
Russian efforts.
(3) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified
annex.
SEC. 104. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH GEORGIA.
It is the sense of Congress that the United States Trade
Representative should make progress toward negotiations with Georgia to
enter a bilateral free trade agreement with Georgia.
TITLE II--SANCTIONS PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON PERSONS COMPLICIT IN OR
RESPONSIBLE FOR SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, INCLUDING
RIGHT TO LIFE IN GEORGIAN REGIONS OF ABKHAZIA AND
TSKHINVALI REGION/SOUTH OSSETIA OCCUPIED BY RUSSIA.
(a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described
in subsection (b) with respect to a foreign person if the President
determines, based on credible information, that such foreign person, on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) is responsible for, complicit in, or responsible for
ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing the commission of
any serious abuse of human rights in Georgian regions of
Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia forcibly occupied
by the Russian Federation;
(2) is knowingly materially assisting, sponsoring, or
providing significant financial, material, or technological
support for, or goods or services to, a foreign person
described in paragraph (1); or
(3) is owned or controlled by a foreign person, or is
acting on behalf of a foreign person, described in paragraph
(1).
(b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions to be imposed with respect
to a foreign person described in subsection (a) are the following:
(1) Asset blocking.--The President shall exercise all of
the powers granted by the International Emergency Economic
Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to the extent necessary to
block and prohibit all transactions in all property and
interests in property of the person if such property and
interests in property are in the United States, come within the
United States, or are or come within the possession or control
of a United States person.
(2) Exclusion from the united states and revocation of visa
or other documentation.--
(A) Inadmissibility to the united states.--In the
case of a person described in subsection (a) who is an
individual, such person shall be--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted
or paroled into the United States or to receive
any other benefit under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--A person described in
subsection (a) who is an individual shall be subject to
the revocation of any visa or other entry documentation
issued to such person regardless of when the visa or
other entry documentation is or was issued. A
revocation under this subparagraph shall take effect
immediately and shall automatically cancel any other
valid visa or entry documentation that is in the
person's possession.
(C) Exception to comply with united nations
headquarters agreement and law enforcement
objectives.--Sanctions under subparagraph (A) shall not
apply to an individual if admitting such individual
into the United States would further important law
enforcement objectives or is necessary to permit the
United States to comply with the Agreement regarding
the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake
Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November
21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United
States, or other applicable international obligations
of the United States.
(c) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of sanctions
under subsection (b) with respect to a person if the President
determines that such a waiver is important to the national interests of
the United States.
(d) Implementation; Penalties.--
(1) Implementation.--The President may exercise all
authorities provided to the President under sections 203 and
205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50
U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry out subsection (b)(1).
(2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to
violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of
subsection (b)(1) or any regulation, license, or order issued
to carry out such subsection shall be subject to the penalties
specified in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to
the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act
described in subsection (a) of such section.
(e) Exception Relating to Importation of Goods.--
(1) In general.--The authorities and requirements to impose
sanctions authorized under this Act shall not include the
authority or requirement to impose sanctions on the importation
of goods.
(2) Good defined.--In this subsection, the term ``good''
means any article, natural or man-made substance, material,
supply or manufactured product, including inspection and test
equipment, and excluding technical data.
(f) Report Required.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act and at least once every 180 days thereafter for a
period not to exceed 2 years, the President, in consultation with the
Secretary of the Treasury, shall transmit to Congress a detailed report
with respect to persons that have been determined to have engaged in
activities described in subsection (a).
TITLE III--DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS
SEC. 301. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the Committee on the Budget of the House of
Representatives, provided that such statement has been submitted prior
to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives October 22, 2019.
Attest:
Clerk.
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 598
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of
Georgia, and for other purposes.