[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8219 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8219
To encourage Hungary to end its reliance on Russian energy and prevent
Hungary's efforts to obstruct financial or security assistance to
Ukraine, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 9, 2026
Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Bacon) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition
to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To encourage Hungary to end its reliance on Russian energy and prevent
Hungary's efforts to obstruct financial or security assistance to
Ukraine, 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 ``Barring Leverage and Obstruction
that Contributes to Kremlin Profits Undermining Transatlantic Interests
and NATO Act'' or the ``BLOCK PUTIN Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine
in February 2022 has demonstrated the strategic risks of
Europe's dependence on the Russian Federation for energy,
specifically oil and gas.
(2) Following the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine,
the United States, the European Union, and their partners
imposed broad, punitive sanctions on the Russian Federation
that limited the Russian Federation's income from energy.
(3) In May 2022, the European Commission launched the
REPowerEU initiative to phase out dependence on Russian energy
sources before 2028.
(4) Since February 2022, the European Union has
subsequently reduced its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by
approximately 90 percent by cutting oil imports by more than 90
percent and reducing pipeline gas deliveries by roughly 80
percent.
(5) Most European countries have undertaken significant
measures to reduce their Russian energy imports in accordance
with the REPowerEU initiative, but Hungary and Slovakia
requested exemptions to the timeline.
(6) Since February 2022, Hungary increased its dependence
on Russian energy by an estimated 30 percent, providing
approximately $6,700,000,000 in crude oil revenue to the
Russian Federation between February 24, 2022, and December 31,
2024.
(7) On September 23, 2025, President Donald Trump said
member countries of the European Union had ``to immediately
cease all energy purchases from Russia''.
(8) On October 23, 2025, the Council of the European Union
adopted the 19th package of restrictive measures against the
Russian Federation, including--
(A) a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural
gas into the European Union;
(B) a full transaction ban on Rosneft and Gazprom
Neft;
(C) measures against third-country operators (which
enable the Russian Federation's revenue streams), 2
Chinese refineries, and a Chinese oil trader; and
(D) strengthened enforcement against maritime
circumvention and the ``shadow fleet''.
(9) In October 2025, the United States imposed secondary
sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft.
(10) Hungary has shown no sign of reducing its dependence
on Russian fossil fuels.
(11) In November 2025, Hungary reportedly received an
exemption from sanctions imposed by the United States related
to its continued purchase of Russian oil and gas.
(12) In February 2026, Hungary blocked a =90,000,000,000
loan package by the European Union intended for Ukraine's
military and budget support and blocked the proposed 20th
European Union sanctions package, demanding in exchange the
resumption of Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline.
(13) Slovakia has vowed to follow Hungary's example and
block the provision of European Union funds to Ukraine if
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban loses his election.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS; STATEMENT OF POLICY.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that it is in
the national security interests of the United States--
(1) to encourage countries to diversify from Russian
energy; and
(2) for European Union member states to finance support for
Ukraine.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United
States to hold Hungary accountable for actions that undermine the
national security interests of the United States described in
subsection (a).
SEC. 4. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President
shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to
the individuals described in subsection (b).
(b) Individuals Described.--The individuals described in this
subsection are senior officials of the Government of Hungary that, on
or after the date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) take steps to block, delay, or otherwise obstruct
additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine through
bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
or other multilateral mechanisms; or
(2) approve or continue to facilitate oil or natural gas
imports from the Russian Federation.
(c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Blocking of property.--The President shall exercise all
of the powers granted to the President by the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (except
that the requirements of section 202 of such Act (50 U.S.C.
1701) shall not apply) to the extent necessary to block and
prohibit all transactions in property and interests in property
of an individual described in subsection (b) 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) Inadmissibility of certain individuals.--
(A) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or
parole.--An alien described in subsection (b) is--
(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 visa revoked.--
(i) In general.--An alien described in
subparagraph (A) is subject to revocation of
any visa or other entry documentation
regardless of when the visa or other entry
documentation is or was issued.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under
clause (i) shall, in accordance with section
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1201(i))--
(I) take effect immediately; and
(II) automatically cancel any other
valid visa or entry documentation that
is in the alien's possession.
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Decreased dependency on russian oil and gas and
allowing assistance to ukraine.--The President shall not impose
sanctions under this section if the Government of Hungary has--
(A) formally adopted and begun implementation of a
public, time-bound plan to end the dependency of
Hungary on oil and natural gas imports from the Russian
Federation that includes a binding commitment to
achieve substantial diversification of oil and natural
gas imports before 2028; and
(B) for a continuous period of not less than 180
days, ceased any official action, to block, delay, or
otherwise obstruct additional financial or security
assistance to Ukraine through bilateral, European
Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or other
multilateral mechanisms.
(2) Compliance with international obligations and law
enforcement activities.--Sanctions under this section shall not
apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the
alien into the United States is necessary--
(A) to comply with United States obligations
under--
(i) the Agreement between the United
Nations and the United States of America
regarding the Headquarters of the United
Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947,
and entered into force November 21, 1947;
(ii) the Convention on Consular Relations,
done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into
force March 19, 1967; or
(iii) any other international agreement; or
(B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity
in the United States.
(3) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under
this section shall not apply to--
(A) any activity subject to the reporting
requirements under title V of the National Security Act
of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
(B) any authorized intelligence activities of the
United States.
(4) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian
assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed
with respect to transactions or the facilitation of
transactions for--
(A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food,
medicine, or medical devices;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
(C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian
assistance; or
(D) transporting goods or services that are
necessary to carry out operations relating to
humanitarian assistance.
(e) Waiver.--The President may waive the application of sanctions
under this section for a period not to exceed 180 days if the President
determines and certifies to the appropriate committees of Congress
that--
(1) the waiver is vital to the national security interests
of the United States; and
(2) the individual has committed to refrain from engaging
in any action described in subsection (b) for a period of not
less than one year.
(f) Termination.--This section shall terminate on the date that is
30 days after the date on which the Secretary of State submits to the
appropriate committees of Congress a written certification that the
Government of Hungary has--
(1) formally adopted and begun implementation of a public,
time-bound plan to end the dependency of the country on oil and
natural gas imports from the Russian Federation that includes a
binding commitment to achieve substantial diversification of
oil and natural gas imports by not later than one year from the
date of such termination; and
(2) for a continuous period of not less than 180 days,
ceased any official action to block, delay, or otherwise
obstruct additional financial or security assistance to Ukraine
through bilateral, European Union, North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, or other multilateral mechanisms.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien; lawfully admitted for
permanent residence.--The terms ``admission'', ``admitted'',
``alien'', and ``lawfully admitted for permanent residence''
have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(3) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
(B) an entity organized under the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction within the United
States, including a foreign branch of such an entity;
or
(C) any person located in the United States.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FACILITATION OF HUNGARIAN
PURCHASES OF RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary
of State shall jointly submit to the committees specified in subsection
(c) a report that provides the justification for any United States
Government facilitation of purchases of Russian Federation oil and
national gas by the Government of Hungary or any related entities.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a detailed description of--
(A) any license or comfort letter issued on or
after October 22, 2025, to, or for the benefit of, the
Government of Hungary or Hungarian individuals or
entities that were related to oil, petroleum products,
or natural gas of Russian Federation origin, including
with respect to transactions involving energy companies
or financial institutions designated for the imposition
of sanctions;
(B) the period of effectiveness of any license or
comfort letter described in subparagraph (A);
(C) any foreign policy guidance by the Department
of State conveyed to the Department of the Treasury
related to the issuance of any license or comfort
letter described in subparagraph (A); and
(D) any information communicated to the Government
of Hungary regarding the potential renewal or extension
of any license or comfort letter described in
subparagraph (A); and
(2) an estimate of the total quantity of oil and gas of
Russian Federation origin purchased by the Government of
Hungary or Hungarian individuals or entities, by volume and
dollar value, since the effective date of any license or
comfort letter described in paragraph (1)(A).
(c) Committees Specified.--The committees specified in this
subsection are--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee of Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Financial Services of the House of Representatives.
(d) Form.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted
in an unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
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